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The IIHS’s updated moderate-overlap front crash test was the deciding factor in a new set of crossover safety ratings. The Nissan Kicks earned a Good rating after rear-seat-belt changes, while the Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer were rated Poor; the Toyota RAV4 received Acceptable in hybrid form and Marginal as a plug-in hybrid.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released crash-test results for four crossovers assessed under its updated moderate-overlap front test, and the Nissan Kicks was the only one to earn a Good rating in that category. The Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer received Poor ratings, while the Toyota RAV4 scored Acceptable as a hybrid and Marginal as a plug-in hybrid, affecting their eligibility for IIHS Top Safety Pick awards.
The Kicks’s result followed a change to its rear seat belts. The model initially received a Poor rating in the test, but the IIHS awarded a Good score after retesting vehicles built after June 2026. The source report says the rating applies to 2026 and 2027 models. The Kicks earned a 2026 Top Safety Pick award, one tier below Top Safety Pick+.
The redesigned 2026 Audi Q3 received a Poor rating in the moderate-overlap test; that result also applies to 2027 models. It earned Good ratings in the other categories described in the report, but the poor crash-test result prevented it from qualifying for a Top Safety Pick award. The redesigned 2026 Toyota RAV4 also missed the award: its standard hybrid version was rated Acceptable in the test, and its plug-in hybrid version was rated Marginal.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer received a Poor rating in the moderate-overlap test and also had low ratings in other areas, including headlights and front-crash prevention technology. The report does not provide detailed injury measurements or vehicle-by-vehicle test data beyond these ratings.
How the Ratings Affect Awards
The results show how one category can shape a vehicle’s overall IIHS recognition. A Good rating in the moderate-overlap front test is required for a Top Safety Pick award, according to the source report. That means the Q3 and RAV4 could not qualify despite stronger results in other areas, while the Kicks’s improved score helped it secure a Top Safety Pick designation.
For shoppers comparing crossovers, the findings offer a specific point of comparison: performance in a crash involving only part of the vehicle’s front end, with particular attention to rear-seat occupant protection. The ratings are not a complete measure of every real-world crash risk, but they identify differences under the IIHS’s stated test conditions.
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Why the Rear Seat Test Changed
The IIHS changed the parameters of its moderate-overlap front test in 2022 to better account for the safety of rear-seat occupants. In the test, a vehicle travels at 40 mph and strikes a barrier with only part of its front end making contact. The revised assessment has proved challenging for some vehicles, according to the source report.
The IIHS is an insurance-industry-backed nonprofit that develops its own vehicle safety tests. Its ratings are separate from federal assessments by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The report describes the institute’s testing criteria as able to change without congressional action, giving automakers a reason to make design adjustments when test results expose weaknesses.
Details Still Missing From Results
The source report does not include the full IIHS test sheets, individual injury measurements, or the specific performance details behind each rating. It also does not state whether Audi, Chevrolet, or Toyota have announced plans to change their vehicles in response to these results. The Kicks’s reported rating is tied to vehicles built after June 2026, so buyers should check the vehicle’s build date and the applicable IIHS listing rather than assume every Kicks has the updated equipment.
The available information also does not establish how these ratings compare with every competitor or with federal crash-test results. The ratings describe performance in the IIHS test categories cited, not an overall guarantee of safety.
Automaker Changes and Future Tests
The next developments to watch are whether Audi, Chevrolet, and Toyota make changes that improve performance in the moderate-overlap test, and whether the IIHS retests updated vehicles. No such changes or retest dates are confirmed in the source report. Shoppers can consult the IIHS’s current ratings for the exact model year and powertrain they are considering, especially for the RAV4, whose hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions received different scores.
Key Questions
Which crossover earned a Good rating in the updated IIHS test?
The Nissan Kicks earned a Good rating after changes to its rear seat belts. The reported rating applies to vehicles built after June 2026, including 2026 and 2027 models.
How did the Toyota RAV4 perform?
The standard hybrid RAV4 received an Acceptable rating in the moderate-overlap front test. The plug-in hybrid received a Marginal rating.
Why did the Audi Q3 miss a Top Safety Pick award?
The Q3 received a Poor rating in the moderate-overlap front test. The source report says a Good rating in that category is required for a Top Safety Pick award, even though the Q3 received Good ratings in its other reported categories.
What does the IIHS moderate-overlap test measure?
The test simulates a vehicle traveling at 40 mph and striking a barrier with only part of its front end. The IIHS updated the test in 2022 to better account for rear-seat occupant safety.
Source: rss
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