VIDEO: These Big SUVs Are Bad For Your Family
The biggest body-on-frame SUVs have taken a beating in the latest crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Driver protection? Sure, they nailed it–the Jeep Wagoneer even strutted out with a Top Safety Pick rating–but if you turn your gaze toward the second row, the story is grim. The IIHS tests revealed a high risk of chest injuries from excessive seat-belt forces.
In the Chevy Tahoe, the dummies in the back showed a disturbing propensity for head, neck, chest, and abdominal injuries as the seat-belt lap portion slid away from its intended position. The Ford Expedition, despite its second-row belt pre-tensioners, fared no better in terms of injury metrics.
The moderate-overlap test left the Wagoneer and Expedition with "Marginal" ratings and the Tahoe with a dismal "Poor." Yet, in the recent side-impact test, all three managed to scrape by with "Good" ratings, a sliver of redemption. For those in the know, "Good" is the gold standard in IIHS parlance.
These results are a sobering reminder that even the mightiest SUVs have their Achilles' heels. The IIHS tests expose vulnerabilities that are often masked by their imposing exteriors.
This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.
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