“The majority of the mid-size SUVs that we evaluated have a lot of work to do to improve safety for the rear seat position,” Raul Arbelaez, Vice President of the IIHS Vehicle Research Center, told CBS News.
The SUVs earned good marks for driver protection but not for consumers with young children or family members who want to ensure everyone is safe in their vehicle. The group found that most vehicles offer “inadequate front crash protection” for backseat passengers.
Four mid-size SUVs received a “good” rating from the IIHS: the Ford Explorer, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Subaru Ascent, and Tesla Model Y.
Three vehicles were rated “marginal,” which means rear passengers have a risk of head or neck injuries: Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Highlander, and Volkswagen Atlas.
Finally, the IIHS ranked nine SUVs “poor” due to the high risk of injury for backseat passengers: the Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler 4-door, Mazda CX-9, and Nissan Murano.