Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Moderate overlap frontal test

The Institute's front crash test differs from that of the American government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program in that its tests are offset. This test exposes 40% of the front of the vehicle to an impact with a deformable barrier at approximately 40 mph (64 kph). Because only 40% of the vehicle's front must stand the impact, it shows the structural strength better than the NHTSA's full-width testing does. The IIHS began this crash test in January 1995.

Many real-life frontal impacts are offset. However, the NHTSA's full frontal crash tests result in the occupant compartment going through greater deceleration. The full frontal crash test is more suitable for evaluating restraint systems such as seat belts and airbags.

The IIHS and NHTSA test results can differ; for example, the NHTSA gave the Chevrolet Venture (also marketed as the Oldsmobile Silhouette and Pontiac Montana/TransSport) 4/5 stars (with 5 stars being the best and 1 star the worst), but the IIHS rated it "Poor" for its poor structural integrity which becomes apparent in the offset crash test. This minivan was one of the poorest performers since the offset frontal crash tests were begun in 1995. The same applies for the 1997–2003 Ford F-150.

An analysis by the IIHS found that a driver of a vehicle rated "Good" is 46% less likely to die in a frontal crash, compared with a driver in a "Poor" rated vehicle . A 33% reduction was found for drivers in an "Acceptable" or "Marginal" rated vehicle.

The IIHS evaluates six individual categories, assigning each a "Good", "Acceptable", "Marginal", or "Poor" rating before determining the vehicle's overall frontal impact rating.

50th Anniversary

In 2009, the IIHS celebrated its 50th anniversary and tested a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air crashing head-on, 40% offset with a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu at 40 mph. The Bel Air's occupant compartment was extensively damaged by the crash. Coupled with the car's lack of modern safety features such as airbags and seat belts, this resulted in the crash test dummy in the Bel Air recording forces that would have probably caused fatal injuries to a real driver. This car performed far worse than the 2nd generation GM minivans that were formerly the worst performers of all time in the IIHS offset test. The Malibu's occupant compartment remained intact and advanced safety equipment protected the driver from potentially serious injury. The Malibu's crash test dummy recorded forces that would produce only a minor foot injury to a real driver.

Small overlap frontal test

On August 14, 2012, IIHS released the first results for a second, more demanding frontal offset test.The new test, which is used in addition to the 40% offset test introduced in 1995, subjects only 25% of the front end of the vehicle to a 40 mph impact. The new test is far more demanding on the vehicle structure than the 40% offset test. In the first round of test, composed of 11 midsized luxury and near-luxury vehicles, most vehicles did poorly; only three vehicles received "good" or "acceptable" ratings.

The rating system is similar to the 40% offset, but has some key differences: hip/thigh and lower leg/foot ratings replace individual ratings for each leg and foot, and full score cannot be attained without deployment of front and side curtain airbags (due to the severe side movement often resulting from this test).

A Medical College of Wisconsin study found small-overlap collisions result in increased head, chest, spine, hip, and pelvis injuries. This sort of collision is common on two-lane roads with two-way traffic where a center median is absent. Single vehicle crashes (into a tree or a pole) account for 40 percent of small-overlap crashes. According to the IIHS, 25% of frontal crash deaths are due to small overlap crashes, with the outer front wheel first to receive the impact forces rather than the more central crash absorbing structure.

The IIHS has since tested family cars, compact cars, minicars, small and midsized SUVs, minivans, muscle cars and large pickup trucks through the small-overlap test.

On Nov. 20th, 2014, the IIHS released footage of four recently tested minivans (two were corporate twins) subjected to this test. One minivan, the 2015 Nissan Quest, was one of the worst ever performers in this test. The occupant compartment collapsed badly, requiring the IIHS to cut out the driver's seat and pry the driver's legs free with a crowbar. The forces on the dummy's left leg were so strong that it would have taken luck for a real human experiencing such a crash to ever walk normally again. This has not been the case for any of the other tested vehicles. It received a "poor" rating for its performance.

The corporate twins the 2015 Chrysler Town and Country and the 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan also fared poorly. The occupant compartment collapsed badly, though not nearly as badly as in the Quest. A sharp metal edge that became exposed during the crash cut through the dummy's skin, indicating that it would have badly sliced a human's leg in such a crash. These twins also received a "poor" rating. Reportedly, the IIHS is also giving the now discontinued Volkswagen Routan a "Poor" Rating due to the fact that it was based upon the same platform as the two Minivans mentioned above, and shares a crash structure with the two, although the IIHS has not tested the Routan.

In the 2015 Toyota Sienna, the occupant compartment did collapse fairly extensively, but unlike the other three minivans, it afforded a low risk of any significant injuries to the driver in this test. It received an "acceptable" rating.

The 2014 Honda Odyssey, which carried over for the 2015 year, had been tested earlier. It received a "Good" rating in this test, and is one of two minivans to receive a good rating. The other is the 2015 Kia Sedona.

Side crash test

Compared to the NHTSA test rig, which simulates the impact from the front end of a passenger car, the taller IIHS test rig simulates the impact of an sport utility vehicle or Pickup truck (approximately a quarter of all new cars sold) into the side of the vehicle being tested. This is a very demanding test of both the vehicle's structural integrity and its side airbag systems, if any. (Seat belts play a less important role in side crashes on the impacted side of the vehicle.) While most new vehicles achieve 4–5 stars from the NHTSA (where head injuries are not part of the rating), many do not score well in the IIHS side impact test.

The IIHS assigns one of the same "Good", "Acceptable", "Marginal", or "Poor" ratings to nine categories before deciding the vehicle's overall side impact score.

IIHS began conducting vehicles tests in 2003. IIHS findings show a driver in a vehicle with a "Good" score is 70% less likely to die in a left-side crash than a driver in a vehicle rated "Poor". A 64% reduction was found for drivers in "Acceptable" rated vehicles and a 49% reduction in vehicles rated "Marginal".

Head restraint evaluation

This tests the vehicle's driver seat to determine effectiveness of the head restraints. The driver's seat is placed on a sled to mimic rear end collisions at 20 mph. Rear end collisions at low to moderate speeds typically do not result in serious injuries but they are common. In 2005 the IIHS estimated 25% of medical costs were related to whiplash injuries.

Roof strength test

In the United States rollovers accounted for nearly 25% of passenger vehicle fatalities. Features such as electronic stability control are proven to significantly reduce rollovers and lane departure warning systems may also help. Rollover sensing side curtain airbags also help to minimize injuries in the event of a rollover. In March 2009, the IIHS began testing the roof strength of vehicles. Volkswagen Tiguan, Honda Element, and Jeep Patriot received Good rating for the roof strength. Kia Sportage received poor rating.

Frontal collision avoidance evaluation

A maximum of 6 points are awarded. The points are awarded if the front crash prevention system meets government criteria, and whether it can reduce the speed or avoid the crash at both 12 and 25 mph. Vehicles that earn one point qualifies as a "basic" rating, while 2 to 4 points means the vehicle earns an "advanced" rating. A "superior" rating is given only if the vehicle earns 5 to 6 points on that test.

Headlight evaluation

In March 2016 the IIHS released ratings for headlight performance. Their first test involved family cars, and most earned marginal or poor ratings. Only one vehicle, the Toyota Prius V, earned a good rating when equipped with specific headlights. The Institute evaluated headlights for small SUVs 4 months later, and none of the vehicles tested earn a good rating. On October 2016, they released ratings for pickup trucks, and the Honda Ridgeline was the only pickup to earn a good rating on the headlights test.

Awards

The Top Safety Pick is an annual award to the best-performing cars of the year. To receive a Top Safety Pick, the vehicle must receive "Good" overall marks in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and seat head restraint tests, regardless of their rating in the small overlap test.

The Top Safety Pick+ award is given to vehicles that receive good rating in at least 4 of 5 tests and a rating of acceptable or good in the fifth test.

Past winners from 2006-on can be found on the IIHS web site.

2014

For 2014 model year vehicles in order to receive the Top Safety Pick vehicles must be rated "Good" in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests and also be rated either "Good" or "Acceptable" in the small overlap front test. To receive the Top Safety Pick+ award the front crash prevention system must be at least "basic" and the Top Safety Pick criteria must also be met .

2015

For 2015 model year vehicles in order to receive the Top Safety Pick vehicles must be rated "Good" in the moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraint tests and also must have no less than an "Acceptable" rating in the small overlap frontal test. To receive the Top Safety Pick+ award the front crash prevention system must be at least "Advanced" or "Superior" and the Top Safety Pick standards must also be met.

2016

For 2016 model year vehicles in order to receive the Top Safety Pick vehicles must be rated "Good" in the moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraint tests as well as a "basic" rating for the front crash prevention system. To receive the Top Safety Pick+ award the front crash prevention system must be "Advanced or "Superior" and the Top Safety Pick standards must also be met.