The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety slapped every of the 4 minivans within the U.S. market with lower than acceptable scores in its new average entrance overlap crash check, which locations a better emphasis on again seat security.
The Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna obtained IIHS’ “marginal” ranking; the Honda Odyssey was rated “poor.”
The unfavorable scores stem from adopting improved airbags and superior seat belts in entrance seats whereas overlooking the second row, making a “safety gap,” Joe Young, a spokesperson for IIHS, advised Automotive News.
IIHS discovered that newer, superior airbags and restraints are “rarely available” within the again.
“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 stated in a press release.
While security has improved within the entrance seats, there was a comparative improve within the danger of deadly damage for belted, second-row passengers, in accordance with analysis carried out by IIHS.
IIHS up to date its check final 12 months after it found the discovering. The new check represents the primary time the company has used a dummy within the again seat to check frontal crash security.
Automakers have executed a great job with improved frontal airbags and extra refined restraint methods within the entrance however might not have been doing inside testing to search out alternatives to reinforce second-row security, Young stated.
IIHS is assured automakers will take observe and make the modifications shortly, he stated, as most updates won’t require structural alterations to the automobile.
The Carnival and Odyssey are anticipated to bear a freshening in 2024, which would offer alternative for the automakers to reinforce security within the second row. That’s additionally the case for the Sienna, which is slated for a freshening in 2025. The phase’s top-selling Pacifica is unlikely to obtain incremental modifications as an all-electric model of the minivan in 2028 is probably going.
Even with the brand new developments, IIHS stated the again seat continues to be the most secure place for kids, who will be injured when entrance airbags inflate. Additionally, the ranking doesn’t apply to kids secured correctly in automotive seats.
Source: www.autonews.com