MENU
SEARCHThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded three midsize SUVs its good overall rating based on their performance in the new passenger-side overlap test, while three others earned acceptable ratings and two got poor ratings.
The 2019 Kia Sorento, 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2018 GMC Acadia have earned a good rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Photo courtesy of IIHS.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded three midsize SUVs its good overall rating based on their performance in the new passenger-side overlap test, while three others earned acceptable ratings and two got poor ratings.
The 2019 Kia Sorento, 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and the 2018 GMC Acadia were the top performers, capturing the good rating.
Acceptable ratings were given to the 2018 Toyota Highlander, the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and the 2018 Honda Pilot.
The 2018 Ford Explorer and the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee scored a poor rating from IIHS after being put through the paces of its rigorous crash test.
While the Acadia’s performance was not flawless, it earned a good rating as it had maximum intrusion of just 2 inches on the right side of the toepan. As for the Sorento, in the test, the vehicle’s structure was maintained well, with maximum intrusion of 4 inches on the right side of the toepan. Finally, the Atlas also captured the good rating likely due to its structural strength and its array of safety systems.
The two vehicles that fared the worst each got a poor rating for their own specific flaws.
The Ford Explorer’s structure collapsed during the test. Intrusion reached 15 inches at the lower door hinge pillar and 13 inches at the upper door hinge pillar and the dashboard. The door sill was pushed in 6 inches toward the dummy.
According to IIHS, measures taken from the dummy showed a high likelihood of injuries to the right hip in a real-world crash of the same severity, as well as a possibility of left lower leg injuries.
Moreover, the Explorer also had poor structural performance in the driver-side test and earned an overall rating of "marginal" for driver-side small overlap protection.
The manufacturer is redesigning the Explorer and promises the new model will have improved small overlap protection on both sides, according to IIHS.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee did not fare well in the rigorous passenger-side crash test either. It experienced a maximum intrusion of 10 inches at the lower door hinge pillar.
However, what happened to the passenger dummy's head was even more disturbing, notes IIHS. It hit the dashboard hard through the front airbag. The side curtain airbag failed to deploy and the door opened, tossing the dummy outside the vehicle during rebound. Measures indicated that right leg injuries would be likely in a crash of similar severity and a head injury would be possible.
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
Read More →
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Read More →
What fleets capture to improve safety can also expose them in litigation, forcing leaders to rethink how data is managed, stored, and shared.
Read More →
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Read More →
While serious crashes are declining, a rise in minor incidents and ongoing risk hotspots underscore the need for continued fleet safety investment.
Read More →
Fleets have more driver data than ever, so why isn't behavior changing? Training requires more than reports and coaching — it requires real-world practice.
Read More →
A two-part conversation with Stefan Heck on how AI is transforming the fight against distracted driving. As fleets adopt smarter tools, the focus shifts from reacting to preventing risk. In Part 1, we look at where AI is making an impact for fleets today.
Read More →
More people on foot means more risk for drivers. These pedestrian safety tips can help prevent serious injuries and keep everyone safer on the road.
Read More →
Safer crews. Fewer incidents. Better uptime. Learn how driver-assist technology is changing the way vocational fleets operate.
Read More →
An 11% drop in pedestrian fatalities in early 2025 signals progress in U.S. road safety, but elevated death rates and ongoing risks underscore the need for continued action from fleets and policymakers.
Read More →
