IIHS Gives Ford Escape and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Poor Rating

Quite a few shoppers want an SUV because they’re supposedly super safe. Obviously, that’s a stereotype that doesn’t always hold true. A potent reminder of that fact came through recently when IIHS gave the Ford Escape and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Poor ratings for the passenger side small overlap test.

Yes, the test is difficult to pass, but somehow the other five small SUVs IIHS put through it earned a Good rating. IIHS only started testing the passenger side in 2017, so maybe Ford and Mitsubishi didn’t get the memo. IIHS says Ford only reinforced the front vehicle structure on the driver’s side. Apparently, protecting the passenger wasn’t much of a priority.

Both of the failing SUVs didn’t deploy their side curtain airbags. IIHS didn’t seem amused with that fact, considering side curtains have been out for a long time.

Just watching the video of those two SUVs crashing is enough to make anyone think twice about buying one.