An IIHS study suggests that SUVs built prior to 2019 are much more likely to kill occupants in other cars.
A recent IIHS study reveals a stark contrast in safety between older and newer SUVs, highlighting that older, used models pose a significantly higher risk of fatality for drivers. Soberingly, the danger of big, heavy SUVs from 10 or so years ago is even worse for drivers in other cars.
An IIHS study suggests that massive, heavy vehicles are more dangerous than we think– especially the older, used SUVs
According to IIHS President David Harkey, Americans tend to believe that “bigger is safer, even bigger must be safer still.” However, a recent study from the safety agency suggests that the “bigger is safer” thinking is flawed. “These results show that isn’t true today. Not for people in other cars. And — this is important — not for the occupants of the large vehicles themselves.”
The “crash compatibility” study studied two timeframes, from 2011 to 2016 and 2017 to 2022. In 2019, car brands overhauled the front-end design of their SUVs. The move better aligned the fascia of newer SUVs with the protective front features of smaller cars.
As a result, large used SUVs from the 2011 to 2016 timeframe were much deadlier for occupants in other cars. Specifically, occupants in struck cars were 90% more likely to die in a crash with SUVs from this period.
In contrast, a used SUV from 2017 to 2022 is only 20% more likely to cause fatalities in a “car-partner” vehicle. What’s more, fewer models weighed over 5,000 lbs in 2022 than in 2016, while passenger cars got heavier.
“It’s a positive development that cars and SUVs are now closer in weight,” Harkey said. “These numbers show that transitioning to lighter pickups could have big benefits too, especially since many drivers don’t use their trucks for carrying heavy payloads.”
It’s not just the older, used SUVs, either. The IIHS study reports that heavy pickup trucks are similarly dangerous. Duh, right? Well, unlike SUVs, which slimmed down a bit, the percentage of pickup trucks weighing more than 4,000 lbs increased from 91% to around 97% by 2022.
