The IIHS grades new vehicles with good, adequate, marginal and poor scores for frontal impact, side impact, head restraint and bumpers. So with that in mind, how did the others fare?
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| The Subaru Forester was the only one tested with standard side impact airbags, which made all the difference in test performance. (Photo: Subaru) |
Of note, the Hyundai Santa Fe with side airbags was the best of the rest with an adequate rating, much higher than the 'marginal' (M) or 'poor' (P) rated Chevrolet Tracker (P), Jeep Wrangler (TJ) (M), Honda CR-V(M) and Element (P), Mitsubishi Outlander (P), Saturn VUE (P), Suzuki Vitara/Grand Vitara (P), and Toyota RAV4 (P). Even the expensive Land Rover Freelander received a 'poor' side impact rating, not what buyers in its price range expect.
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| The expensive Land Rover Freelander placed among the worst performers with its 'poor' rating. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
To be fair, some of the vehicles tested could have received higher marks if their optional side impact airbags were tested. The IIHS tests vehicles with standard equipment only, but gives the opportunity for side or curtain airbag equipped vehicles to undergo testing if the respective automaker foots the bill. Ford Motor chose to pay for the Escape and Tribute to get tested, while Saturn, Honda and Mitsubishi did not.
After all was said and done the Subaru Forester deserves special attention for achieving 'good' results in all tests; frontal impact, side impact, head restraints and bumpers - the only model to do so.