Most small SUVs are doing a good job of avoiding some of the most common types of crashes, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The IIHS says these types of accidents don’t typically result in injuries, but safety features could save you thousands of dollars in repairs.
Testers looked at scenarios where cars were backing up at slow speeds, much like you’d do in a parking lot.
The IIHS says nearly 30% of accident claims in 2022 were for contact to the back of the car, costing over $4,000.
The low-speed backing crash tests evaluated how automatic emergency braking systems could save your wallet.
“Backing crashes happen frequently and can result in significant damage, which is often expensive,” said David Aylor, vice president of Active Safety for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Our research has shown that these types of systems can reduce backing crashes by 80%. For that reason, we want to encourage manufacturers to equip their vehicles with these type of systems.”
Eight small SUVs were tested and rated either basic, advanced or superior.
The rating was determined by how their systems performed in three tests using a passenger vehicle target at different angles and a test using a pole.
The goal was to either avoid the target or reduce speed before any contact was made.
“Rear crash prevention systems use ultrasonic systems mounted at the back of the vehicle,” Aylor explained. “They first warn the driver if there is an obstacle behind them and in some cases can automatically apply the brakes to avoid a collision. Many vehicles also use radar units as a part of a rear cross-traffic alert system to warn if there’s a vehicle crossing their path as they back up.”
The Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander and Subaru Forester each earned the highest rating of superior.
The Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Taos were rated advanced.
The Hyundai Tucson got a basic rating.
The IIHS says that if you are in the market for a small SUV, cars with this rear braking technology could help prevent some of the most common crashes and the experts encourage you to check them out.