News releases

New crash test spotlights back-seat safety
December 5, 2022

The rating criteria for the updated moderate overlap front test were adjusted in 2024 to better account for variations in the position of the rear shoulder belt. The ratings provided in this news release reflect the methodology that IIHS used at the time of publication. Under the new methodology, the Toyota RAV4’s overall rating is marginal instead of acceptable. In addition, some of the component ratings changed for that vehicle and others whose overall ratings remained the same. Up-to-date ratings using the current criteria can be found in the vehicle ratings section of our website. The news release can be viewed at https://go.iihs.org/news-new-test.


The updated moderate overlap front crash test incorporates a dummy in the second row to encourage automakers to improve safety for passengers seated in the rear. Only two of 15 small SUVs tested earn a good rating.