| Six Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have recently | | | | dummies' chests and abdomens." |
| undergone frontal and side crash tests conducted | | | | The functionality of the Pathfinder and the |
| by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. | | | | Xterra's side structures are doing good to protect |
| The test showed that there was an improvement | | | | the passengers from intrusions inside the |
| frontal crash protection but also discovered that | | | | compartment. The side airbags which are |
| there are also differences on how those SUVs | | | | standard features of the 4Runner and are optional |
| protect their passengers from side crashes. The | | | | packages for the Pathfinder and the Xterra |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Chevrolet | | | | serves well for head protection. The Ford |
| Trailblazer are the worst performers in the test. | | | | Explorer has standard trunk and head curtain |
| The other SUVs involved in the test which gained | | | | airbags. The Explorer provides good head |
| good marks are the Nissan Xterra and Pathfinder, | | | | protection but it does not properly protect its |
| Toyota 4Runner and the Ford Explorer. | | | | passengers inside the compartment from |
| In the IIHS' 40 mph frontal crash test, five of the | | | | intrusions posing high risk for a passenger to |
| SUVs gained a good rating except the Chevrolet | | | | break a pelvis in a real-life crash with similar |
| Trailblazer which gained an acceptable rate. | | | | severity. |
| However, for the overall front, side and rear | | | | Side airbags are becoming standard features of |
| crash tests, the Trailblazer ranked the poorest | | | | most vehicle segment like cars but not SUVs. For |
| among the six SUV models. | | | | the 2007 model years of vehicles, 71 percent of |
| For the 31 mph crash test involving another SUV | | | | passenger cars hhave built in side airbags |
| or pick up to strike the vehicle under the test, the | | | | protecting the head and the chest during collisions |
| results were also varied. For the side impacts the | | | | but only 48 percent of SUVs have the same |
| two Nissan, Xterra and the Pathfinder achieved | | | | safety feature. |
| the good rating, thanks to their optional side | | | | The Unites States is known to be an SUV-loving |
| airbags. The IIHS assumed that if these airbags | | | | country to perfectly match its consumers |
| are not available these Nissans will gain mediocre | | | | demanding for a vehicle that can tow or carry |
| remarks. The Toyota 4Runner earned good with | | | | baggage and to provide room for a family. |
| its standard side airbags, an acceptable rating for | | | | However, technology wise, SUVs now do not just |
| the Ford Explorer for its standard side air bags, | | | | meet these American demands but also provides |
| the Chevrolet Trailblazer and the Jeep Grand | | | | safer drive than before with added features as |
| Cherokee both achieved marginal ratings for | | | | electronic stability control which is already a |
| having their standard airbags too. | | | | standard feature in this vehicle segment. The IIHS |
| "The performance of some of these models in | | | | is a company that provides Americans with the |
| the side test was surprising," says Institute senior | | | | right choice of an SUV as it test these vehicles in |
| vice president David Zuby. "SUVs should have an | | | | different safety aspects. None of the six SUVs |
| advantage in side crashes because the driver and | | | | under the recent test gained the TOP SAFETY |
| passengers ride higher up than in cars. People | | | | PICK mark due to low ratings earned in side and |
| often think they're safer in one of these vehicles, | | | | rear impact crashes. |
| but many cars hold up better than some of these | | | | "If you're in the market for a midsize SUV, |
| midsize SUVs in this test." | | | | there's no reason to buy one with mediocre crash |
| Four of the SUVs are built with side airbags set | | | | test ratings," Zuby says. "Vehicles like the Ford |
| to protect the trunk but the Jeep Grand | | | | Edge and Taurus X, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe, |
| Cherokee and the Chevrolet Trailblazer do not. | | | | and Subaru Tribeca would be safer choices. They |
| However, these two SUVs have curtain style | | | | afford good protection in front and side crashes. |
| airbags to protect the heads of the passengers in | | | | Plus they have good seat/head restraint designs |
| cases of frontal and rear crashes. | | | | to protect you in rear-end crashes. These five |
| "Nearly every car with side airbags has both head | | | | models, tested earlier this year, are our highest |
| and torso airbags, but the Grand Cherokee and | | | | rated midsize SUVs, earning the TOP SAFETY |
| TrailBlazer have head protection only," Zuby points | | | | PICK award. If you're willing to spend a little more, |
| out. "Head protection is rated good in both | | | | the Acura MDX and Acura RDX, Lincoln MKX, |
| vehicles, but the lack of chest protection and | | | | Mercedes M class, and Volvo XC90 also are TOP |
| weak side structures that allowed a lot of | | | | SAFETY PICK choices. |
| intrusion contributed to high forces on the driver | | | | |