Your clients are at risk if they drive these cars: Insurance group

The latest findings of an insurance group reveal that most compact SUVs failed to achieve decent headlight performance ratings

Insurance News

By Lyle Adriano

Despite the latest innovations in automobile headlight technology, a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that all the compact SUVs they tested for headlight performance failed the institute’s tests.

The group tested a total of 21 small SUVs, also known as compact SUVs or CUVs. Notably, most of the 21 SUVs failed to earn a good rating for headlight performance, despite options for 47 different headlight combinations.

Only four vehicles earned "acceptable-rated" headlights, the IIHS said.

The IIHS pointed out that headlight performance in current automobiles varies widely. The group brought attention to government standards on lab tests, citing that the standards do not accurately consider real-world nighttime driving conditions.

Testing involved measuring the amount of usable light provided by the vehicles’ low beams and high beams on both straightaways and curves. The IIHS found that “special features”—such as high-intensity-discharge and LED lamps as well as curve-adaptive systems that bend light beams in the direction of the vehicle—did not necessarily help the vehicles achieve higher results during testing.

The following compact SUVs were rated “Poor” in terms of headlight performance by the IIHS:
  • Audi Q3
  • Buick Encore
  • Chevrolet Trax
  • Fiat 500X
  • Honda HR-V
  • Jeep Patriot
  • Jeep Renegade
  • Jeep Wrangler
  • 2017 Kia Sportage
  • Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
  • Nissan Rogue
  • Subaru Forester
The following earned “Marginal” ratings:
  • BMW X1
  • Mazda CX-5
  • Mitsubishi Outlander
  • Toyota RAV4
  • Volkswagen Tiguan
These four were the only ones that earned “Acceptable” ratings:
  • 2017 Ford Escape
  • Honda CR-V
  • Hyundai Tucson
  • Mazda CX-3

As a result of the study, the institute announced that it will be adding headlight performance to its series of tests in 2017, reported mlive.com.
 

Related stories:
Ford soars to top spot in insurance safety tests
America’s favorite truck may spell insurance industry trouble
 

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