Customers looking for the safest SUVs available could end up shying away from the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2018 Ford Explorer after results from the IIHS were made public. Both earned “Poor” ratings in the institute’s passenger-side small-overlap crash test. The test is designed to mimic hitting a tree or telephone pole on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee's structure faired slightly better than the Ford Explorer. However, the crash-test dummy’s head hit the dashboard through the airbag, which caused the head to rebound outside the vehicle due to the fact the side-impact airbag didn’t deploy and the door opened during impact. This combination of failures is dangerous, if not deadly in an accident.
All the Explorer’s airbags deployed, but the SUV saw significant structural intrusion into the cabin. Intrusion at the lower door hinged measured 15 inches into the cabin while the door sill moved six inches toward the passenger after the crash.
The 2019 Kia Sorento, 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, and 2018 GMC Acadia all received “Good” ratings – the highest possible – in the IIHS passenger-side small-overlap crash test, while the Sorento earned the institute’s Top Safety Pick Plus designation. The 2018 Toyota Highlander, 2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2018 Honda Pilot all earned “Acceptable” scores on the crash test.
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