IIHS Made Crash Tests
Dramatically Harder

In 2022–2023, IIHS introduced tougher versions of two key crash tests. Many vehicles that scored "Good" on the old tests now score "Marginal" or "Poor" on the updated ones.

Sources: IIHS test protocols, NHTSA crash data, IIHS Status Reports

πŸ”¬ Why IIHS Changed the Tests

Two major safety gaps drove the updates: heavier vehicles on the road, and under-protected rear passengers.

πŸš› Vehicles Got Heavier

The average new vehicle weighs 4,300+ pounds in 2024, up from 3,200 lbs in the 1980s. SUVs and trucks now make up 78% of new car sales. The old side crash test used a 3,300 lb barrier β€” lighter than most vehicles on the road. Getting hit by a modern SUV is far more violent than the old test simulated.

πŸ‘© Women Were Invisible in Testing

For decades, crash tests used only a 50th-percentile male dummy β€” 5'9", 171 lbs. Women are 73% more likely to be seriously injured and 17% more likely to die in frontal crashes. The updated front test adds a 5th-percentile female dummy (4'11", 108 lbs) in the rear seat β€” finally checking if smaller occupants survive.

πŸ’₯ Updated Side Test: 82% More Energy

Introduced in 2023. Simulates being T-boned by a modern SUV instead of a 1990s sedan.

Parameter Old Test Updated Test Change
Barrier Weight 3,300 lbs 4,200 lbs +27%
Impact Speed 31 mph 37 mph +19%
Crash Energy Baseline 1.82Γ— +82%
Barrier Height Sedan-level SUV-level Higher impact point
B-Pillar Contact Flat surface Wraps around B-pillar More intrusion
138
Scored Good
23
Scored Acceptable
4
Scored Marginal
4
Scored Poor

πŸ§ͺ Updated Front Test: Back-Seat Lives Now Count

Introduced in 2022. Adds a small female-sized dummy in the rear seat to test back-seat passenger protection.

Parameter Old Test Updated Test
Front Dummy 50th-percentile male (5'9", 171 lbs) Same
Rear Dummy None 5th-percentile female (4'11", 108 lbs)
Rear Assessment Not tested Head, chest, neck, abdomen, thigh injury risk
Submarining Check Not tested Yes β€” checks if rear occupant slides under lap belt
Chest Index (2024) N/A New metric combining belt position + chest compression
Updated Moderate Overlap Front Test Results (139 vehicles tested)
80
Good (58%)
15
Acceptable (11%)
26
Marginal (19%)
18
Poor (13%)

42% of tested vehicles scored less than Good β€” this test is a major differentiator.

πŸ” What Happened to My Car?

These 48 vehicles scored Marginal or Poor on at least one updated test. Many were previously considered among the safest vehicles on the road.

"β€”" means the vehicle hasn't been tested on that updated test yet.

Vehicle Updated Front Updated Side Current Tier
2026 Lexus RX Poor Good Above Average
2026 Audi Q4 E Tron Poor Good Above Average
2026 Audi Q4 Sportback E Tron Poor Good Above Average
2026 Volkswagen Tiguan Poor Good Above Average
2026 Honda Odyssey Poor Good Average
2026 Honda CR V Poor Good Average
2026 Subaru WRX Poor Good Average
2026 Ford F 150 Poor Good Average
2026 Ram 1500 Poor Good Average
2026 Chevrolet Tahoe Poor Good Average
2026 Jeep Compass Poor β€” Average
2025 Cadillac XT6 Poor Poor Average
2026 Buick Envista Poor β€” Average
2026 Chevrolet Trax Poor β€” Average
2026 Nissan Altima Marginal Poor Below Average
2025 Ford F 150 Lightning Poor β€” Below Average
2026 Kia K5 Poor Marginal Below Average
2026 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Poor Poor Below Average
2025 Chevrolet Malibu β€” Poor Below Average
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Poor Acceptable Below Average
2026 Mercedes-Benz E Class Marginal Good Above Average
2026 Audi Q8 Marginal Good Above Average
2026 Toyota Sienna Marginal Good Above Average
2025 Jeep Wagoneer Marginal Good Above Average
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Marginal Good Above Average
2026 Toyota Highlander Marginal Good Above Average
2025 Lexus Es 350 Marginal Acceptable Above Average
2026 Lexus UX Marginal β€” Above Average
2025 Nissan Ariya Marginal Good Above Average
2026 Subaru Crosstrek Marginal Good Average
2026 Subaru Impreza Marginal Good Average
2026 Ford Escape Good Marginal Average
2025 Subaru Outback Marginal Good Average
2026 Kia EV6 Marginal Good Average
2025 Ford Bronco Marginal Good Average
2026 Toyota 4Runner Marginal Good Average
2026 Ford Bronco Sport Marginal Acceptable Average
2026 Chrysler Pacifica Marginal Acceptable Average
2025 Subaru Legacy Marginal Acceptable Average
2026 Kia Carnival Marginal Acceptable Average
2025 Audi Q3 Marginal Acceptable Average
2026 Toyota Rav4 Marginal Acceptable Average
2026 Kia Seltos Acceptable Marginal Average
2026 Volkswagen Taos Marginal Acceptable Average
2026 Lincoln Corsair β€” Marginal Average
2026 Ford Expedition Marginal Good Average
2026 Ford Maverick Marginal Good Average
2025 Nissan Sentra Marginal Acceptable Below Average

🟒 Why Some Vehicles Ace Both Tests

Vehicles that score "Good" on both updated tests have invested in true crash engineering: stronger B-pillars, rear-seat airbags, pretensioning rear seat belts, and load-limiting belt technology that reduces chest injuries for smaller occupants. These aren't cosmetic upgrades β€” they require fundamental redesign of the restraint system.

πŸ“Š How We Handle It in Our Rankings

We believe updated test scores are more meaningful than old ones. Here's what we do:

1. Prioritize Updated Scores

When a vehicle has an updated test score, that's what counts in our ranking. The old score is ignored.

2. Penalize Missing Updated Tests

Vehicles with no updated test results receive a 15% reduction to their crash test component. We can't verify they'd pass the harder tests.

3. Top 1% Requires Updated "Good"

To earn our Top 1% safety tier, a vehicle must have "Good" on both the updated side test and the updated front test. No exceptions.

Bottom Line

If you're buying a new car and plan to carry rear passengers β€” especially children or smaller adults β€” check whether it scored "Good" on the updated moderate overlap front test. Many popular family vehicles fail this test.

Sources: IIHS Side Crash Test Protocol (2023 update), IIHS Moderate Overlap Front Test Protocol (2022 update), IIHS Status Reports, NHTSA crash statistics, University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics.