A BAD Day For Chrysler And Hyundai SUVs — Poor Performances In HARSH IIHS' Crash Test

Since its introduction in 2012, vehicles have begun getting subjected to what the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are calling the "small overlap" test.

Essentially, this means that IIHS crash tests a vehicle at 40 mph with only one quarter of the vehicle's front bumper coming into contact with the barrier. It is purposefully designed to basically avoid most vehicle's safety structures.

Our friends at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Hyundai didn't fare well this time out.

For FCA, the Dodge Journey earned a poor rating. In addition, the Dodge Durango and Jeep Cherokee earned a marginal rating, which is one step up from poor.

For Hyundai, the Santa Fe earned a marginal rating as well.



The Dodge Journey earned an overall rating of Poor in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's small overlap crash test.

The Dodge Durango and the Jeep Cherokee, also made by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAM), both earned a rating of Marginal, the second-to-worst rating, as did the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Dodge Journey provided "a classic example of poor small overlap protection," according to the Institute.

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MDarringer - 5/12/2015 8:49:53 AM

-5 Boost

Given that the IIHS is literally owned by the insurance industry and based on IIHS "findings" (a statistically invalid sample of one) the insurance industry sets rates, then I would say the IIHS did their job well.

IIHS is not about safety. They are 100% about justifying rate hikes to the big companies that own them.

Wake up!

nguyenvuminh - 5/12/2015 12:25:35 PM

+1 Boost

Just out of curiosity, is there an alternative to IIHS in terms of crash test here in the US?

MDarringer - 5/12/2015 7:17:45 PM

0 Boost

A lack of an alternative does not make the IIHS virtuous.