--- title: "Most Small SUVs Are Bad at Automatic Emergency Braking, IIHS Says" description: "Most small SUVs graded poorly during the IIHS' new automatic emergency braking test, with only one SUV receiving a good rating." date: "2024-04-25" modified: "2024-04-25" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/most-small-suvs-are-bad-at-automatic-emergency-braking-iihs-says" categories: - "News" tags: - "forester" - "Subaru" - "suv/crossover" --- # Most Small SUVs Are Bad at Automatic Emergency Braking, IIHS Says ![]() *IIHS* The last time the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ([IIHS]()) created a vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test, automatic emergency braking technology was still pretty new. While IIHS' real-world data proved that such technologies were preventing crashes at higher speeds, the test still didn't rate cars' specific technologies. Now, the IIHS has a new test for automatic emergency braking, and it turns out that most small SUVs suck at it. The SUVs that participated in the test were the Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Mitsubishi Outlander, Chevy Equinox, and the Volkswagen Taos. Of those ten SUVs only one (!) received the IIHS' "Good" rating—the [Subaru Forester](). After that, only two were rated as "Acceptable," the [Honda CR-V]() and [Toyota RAV4](). The [Ford](), [Hyundai](), and [Jeep]() were rated "Marginal," while the rest were sent home with "Poor" ratings and their heads hanging low. Automatic emergency braking technologies are designed to do two things: warn the driver of an imminent crash and, if the driver fails to heed such warnings, automatically apply the brakes on its own in time to prevent the crash. The old test was done at 12 and 25 mph. Now that automakers' tech has improved dramatically since the first test was designed, the IIHS bumped the speeds up to 31, 37, and 43 mph. ![]() **IIHS** "The vast majority of new vehicles now come with automatic emergency braking, and our research shows the technology prevents as many as half of all front-to-rear crashes. This new, tougher evaluation targets some of the most dangerous front-to-rear crashes that are still happening," said IIHS President David Harkey. Test cars are driven at those predetermined speeds toward three different stationary objects: an inflatable dummy motorcycle, an inflatable dummy car, and a real semi-truck trailer. Since the semi-truck trailer is real, drivers don't let the car strike it, obviously, but instead drive around it after it warns them of an impending crash. As for the inflatables, the cars can and very much *do* crash into them. Most of the SUVs had sufficient warnings that alerted drivers well ahead of time. Unfortunately, most of them were also incapable of stopping completely before crashing into the dummies at higher speeds. Admittedly, even a drastic reduction in speed before a collision will make crashes far less severe. But of course, the point of these systems is to avoid crashes completely and, in that regard, some of the most popular vehicles on our roads still have a ways to go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywyCTIsNYis *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()