Here at Jalopnik, we’re huge followers of minivans. They might not be as cool as SUVs, however they’re simply so rattling sensible it’s onerous to care. And moreover, it’s not like anyone’s saying, “Damn, check out that badass Toyota Highlander.” But as the most recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety check exhibits, not one of the minivans at the moment on sale within the U.S. excel the place you’d hope they might: rear seat security.
The IIHS has an up to date reasonable overlap entrance crash check that it claims to have carried out as a result of the danger of deadly damage is now greater for second-row passengers carrying their seatbelts than it’s for the driving force and entrance passenger. It’s necessary to notice, although, that the issue isn’t that the second and third rows have grow to be extra harmful. Instead, it’s as a result of the entrance seats have gotten even safer than they already had been. Additionally, it’s nonetheless safer for kids to journey within the again till they’re sufficiently old for the entrance seat.
When the IIHS examined minivans not too long ago, none acquired a score of acceptable or good. The Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna earned a marginal score, whereas the Honda Odyssey obtained a poor score. And solely the Sienna got here with seatbelt reminders for second-row occupants.
“The restraint systems in all four vehicles leave the second-row occupant vulnerable to chest injuries, either because of excessive belt forces or poor belt positioning,” Jessica Jermakian, IIHS vp of car analysis, mentioned in an announcement. “That’s concerning because those injuries can be life-threatening.”
In addition to being the one minivan supplied with rear seatbelt reminders, the Sienna can also be the one belt pre-tensioners and pressure limiters. Even so, the rear check dummy nonetheless slid beneath the lap belt, and the shoulder belt slid too near its neck. In the opposite two marginally rated minivans, the seatbelt utilized an excessive amount of pressure to the check dummy’s chest. Additionally, the Pacifica’s aspect curtain airbag didn’t deploy within the check. As for the Honda Odyssey, the rear check dummies skilled much more pressure on their heads and necks, whereas the third-row seatbelt didn’t cease the dummy’s head from coming dangerously near hitting the seat in entrance of it.
“Back seat safety is important for all vehicles, but it’s especially vital for those, like minivans, that customers are choosing specifically to transport their families,” IIHS President David Harkey mentioned in an announcement. “It’s disappointing that automakers haven’t acted faster to apply the best available technology to the second row in this vehicle class.”
Source: jalopnik.com