The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted extensive tests to evaluate the safety of rear seat passengers in various car models. The latest tests focused on midsize luxury SUVs, including the Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Volvo XC60, Acura MDX, BMW X3, Audi Q5, Lexus RX, and Cadillac XT6.
Traditionally, car manufacturers have prioritized the safety of front seat occupants and neglected the safety of rear seat passengers. As a result, most tested models were found to have inadequate rear seat safety measures.
The test results showed that only three midsize luxury SUVs provided good protection for rear seat passengers: the Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, and Volvo XC60. Among these, the Volvo XC60 scored the highest in all categories, both for front and rear seat passenger protection.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class still posed a risk of neck injuries for rear seat passengers. Additionally, the inner dummy in the Lincoln Aviator was pushed too close to the front seat during collisions. However, both models were still rated “Good” in terms of rear seat passenger protection, similar to the Volvo XC60.
The Acura MDX and BMW X3 received an “Acceptable” rating. Rear seat passengers in these models experienced injuries within acceptable limits. However, rear seat passengers in the Acura MDX were more likely to slide out of the seat belt, while the inner dummy in the BMW X3 was pushed closer to the front seat.
In contrast, the Audi Q5 and Lexus RX received a “Marginal” rating for rear seat passenger protection. The dummies’ heads and necks were prone to injuries due to sliding out of the seat belt. Moreover, rear seat passengers were at risk of head and neck injuries in collisions.
The Cadillac XT6, the worst performer among the tested midsize luxury SUVs, was rated “Poor” for rear seat passenger protection. The dummies slid out of the seat belt, exposing passengers to head, neck, and chest injuries in collisions.
It is important to note, however, that midsize luxury SUVs still offer better rear seat passenger protection compared to other vehicle segments in the US market. Five out of the eight tested models were rated “Good” or “Acceptable”. Additionally, the segment includes the highest-rated model overall, the Volvo XC60.
“More than half of the 2024 midsize luxury SUVs performed well in our small overlap front crash tests, which is encouraging,” said David Harkey, President of IIHS. “The three models that received ‘Good’ ratings in this group demonstrate that our tougher new criteria are achievable when manufacturers are committed to doing their best.”
However, there is room for improvement in terms of rear seat passenger protection. “While some models in this segment performed well, we still observed instances where rear seat occupants slid out of the seat belt. This indicates that many manufacturers need to put more effort into improving seat belt systems in the rear seats,” concluded Harkey.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
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