Ford’s all-electric 2021-23 Mustang Mach-E scored the highest in frontal crash safety testing against 13 midsize SUV competitors, according to the latest study released Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS):
The 2022-23 Tesla Model Y, 2022-23 Ford Explorer and the 2022-23 Subaru Ascent also earned good ratings for front crash protection for passengers seated in the rear because the seat belt remained properly positioned on the pelvis, the side curtain air bag worked and the chest sustained no excessive force.
However, the dummy’s head approached the front seat back in the Tesla, Explorer and Ascent — indicating risk of head injury.
The remaining nine SUVs earned back seat passenger safety ratings that reflect various levels of risk for chest, abdominal, head or neck injury:
- Chevrolet Traverse, marginal
- Toyota Highlander, marginal
- Volkswagen Atlas, marginal
- Honda Pilot, poor
- Hyundai Palisade, poor
- Jeep Grand Cherokee, poor
- Jeep Wrangler four-door, poor
- Mazda CX-9, poor
- Nissan Murano, poor
“In the Grand Cherokee, the rear dummy’s head ended up between the window and the air bag as it rebounded from the initial impact, increasing the risk of injury from the hard surfaces of the vehicle interior or objects outside the vehicle,” the study said.
This latest study was launched to spotlight back seat safety systems, which have more slowly adopted seat belt and seat design updates.
A crash-test dummy representing a 12-year-old child was seated in the second row behind the driver. To earn a good rating, measurements recorded by sensors in the second-row dummy could not exceed limits that would indicate excessive risk of injury to the head, neck, chest, abdomen or thigh, the news release said.
Researchers used video footage and greasepaint on the dummy’s head to confirm restraints prevented the head from hitting the vehicle interior or coming too close to the front seatback and also prevented the dummy’s body from “submarining,” or sliding forward beneath the lap belt, which causes abdominal injuries, the release said.
A pressure sensor helped gauge the risk of chest injuries.
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Joe Young, spokesman for IIHS, told the Detroit Free Press, “We’re really encouraged by the performance of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Explorer … The Mustang Mach-E was the only model in this group of 13 midsize SUVs to receive no downgrades in any of the ratings categories. This means the vehicle’s restraint systems did a really good job of limiting forces to the rear occupant in the 40-mph frontal crash, while also keeping the occupant from coming too close to interior vehicle surfaces that could pose injury risk.”
He added, “Based on the results we’ve seen so far, Ford is among those automakers that are ahead of the curve in providing a high level of occupant protection for both front and rear seat occupants.”
IIHS is a nonprofit organization funded by the insurance industry and dedicated to reducing death, injury and property damage from vehicle crashes through research and consumer education.
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Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Read more on Ford. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid