The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) regularly conducts crash tests for every mainstream vehicle on sale today according to the segment in which they fall under. Most recently, the IIHS performed a series of these tests for what’s become one of the most popular segments in the US today, small crossovers. Of the seven vehicles tested, only one earned a ‘poor’ rating in the front passenger-side overlap crash test, the 2018 Ford Escape.
According to the IIHS, “the Escape struggled in the test, as intruding structure seriously compromised space for the right-front passenger. Intrusion measured 10 inches at the upper door-hinge pillar, compared with 5 inches in the driver-side test. The passenger-side door sill was pushed 4 inches laterally into the occupant compartment.
"Measures taken from the dummy indicate that right hip injuries would be likely in a real-world crash of this severity.” This is rather surprising considering just last year, Ford upgraded the Escape with a reinforced structure on the driver side to improve occupant protection. However, it did not replicate this reinforcement on the front passenger side, hence these latest test results. The driver’s side, however, did receive an ‘acceptable’ score on this same crash test. The six other small crossovers also tested include the BMW X1, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, Jeep Compass, Mitsubishi Outlander and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.
All earned good scores except for the Outlander Sport, which received a marginal rating because, for some reason, its side curtain airbags didn’t deploy. It’s still important to point out the 2018 Ford Escape earned ‘good’ ratings for protection against neck, head, chest and lower leg, and foot injuries. It also scored ‘good’ for moderate overlap front crash, side, roof strength, and head restraints. A completely redesigned Ford Escape is due in 2020, so expect issues like this to be corrected.
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