Only two of 13 small SUVs tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety scored well on a front-end crash test.
IIHS crashed the SUVs into a 5-foot-tall barrier at 40 mph and measured how the structure held up, how the air bags and seat belts worked and the potential for injuries to the head, neck, torso and other parts of the body. The test hits only about 25 percent of the front-end, and that often misses structures set up to absorb crash impacts.
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The nonprofit group funded by the insurance industry gave the SUVs demerits depending on their performance in the crashes. Ratings range from “good,” which is the best, to “poor,” which is the worst:
Subaru Forester: Good
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Acceptable
BMW X1: Marginal
Nissan Rogue: Marginal
Mazda CX-5: Marginal
Honda CR-V: Marginal
Jeep Wrangler: Marginal
Volkswagen Tiguan: Marginal
Hyundai Tucson: Poor
Kia Sportage: Poor
Buick Encore: Poor
Jeep Patriot: Poor
Ford Escape: Poor
