US Highway Safety Insurance Association Rates Rear Seat Safety of 9 Models Including Tucson as Lowest Grade

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] In the first rear-seat safety evaluation conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 9 out of 15 small sport utility vehicles (SUVs) tested, including Hyundai's Tucson, received the lowest rating.

According to Forbes on the 13th (local time), IIHS announced that among the 15 small SUVs evaluated in the first rear-seat safety test following a moderate overlap front collision, only the Ford Escape and Volvo XC40 received a "good" rating. Toyota RAV4 received an "acceptable" rating, while Audi Q3, Nissan Rogue, and Subaru Forester received a "marginal" rating.

Hyundai Tucson, Buick Encore, Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Honda HR-V, Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade, Mazda CX-5, and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross were all given the lowest rating of "poor."

This evaluation was conducted for the first time by IIHS to complement the existing frontal crash tests, as safety devices such as seat belts and airbags, as well as vehicle structures, have improved for front-seat occupant protection, leaving rear-seat safety relatively behind. Unlike previous frontal crash tests, this test was conducted with sensors installed in the rear seats. Mannequins representing small women or children were seated in the rear, and the test evaluated the risk of injury to different body parts and the function of safety devices during the collision.

IIHS explained, "Recent studies of real crash cases show that in many instances, rear-seat passengers are more severely injured than front-seat occupants," adding, "The likelihood of driver fatality in frontal crashes has decreased by nearly 50% compared to 25 years ago."

All nine vehicles rated "poor" showed high risk of injury to the head, neck, and chest of rear-seat occupants, and the mannequins' chests experienced excessive force from the seat belts. In particular, IIHS pointed out that in the Tucson, the mannequin nearly contacted the front seatback, and the mannequin's head was caught between the side curtain airbag and the window.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.