2005 Suv and Crash Rollover Ratings from NHTSA

Model year 2005 Acura MDX, Ford Freestyle, and Jeep Grand Cherokee earned the top rating of 5-stars for all available seating positions in frontal and side crash tests announced the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in their SUV Crash Test Summary. All results are available at www.safercar.gov.

New 2005 ratings for frontal impact are available for the following SUVs: Acura MDX, Buick Rainier, Buick Rendezvous, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Ford Freestyle, GMC Envoy, Hyundai Santa Fe, Isuzu Ascender, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Murano, Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Xterra and Saab 9-7x.

New 2005 ratings for side impact are available for the following SUVs: Honda Element, Hyundai Santa Fe with side air bags, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Murano with side air bags, Nissan Pathfinder and Nissan Xterra.

NHTSA crash test ratings apply to both 4x2 and 4x4 versions of the same make and model. Separate rollover testing is done for 4x2 and 4x4 versions of 2005 models selected for rollover testing.

New 2005 rollover ratings are available for the following models: Acura MDX 4x4, Cadillac Escalade 4x2, Cadillac Escalade EXT 4x4, Cadillac ESV 4x4, Chevrolet Avalanche 4x2, Chevrolet Avalanche 4x4, Chevrolet Suburban 4x2, Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, Chevrolet Tahoe 4x2, Ford Explorer 4x2, Ford Freestyle 4x2, Ford Freestyle 4x4, GMC Yukon 4x2, GMC Yukon XL 4x2, GMC Yukon XL 4x4, Honda CR-V 4x2, Honda CR-V 4x4, Hyundai Santa Fe 4x2, Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4, Jeep Wrangler 4x4, Nissan Pathfinder 4x2 and Nissan Pathfinder 4x4.

In this latest group of Sport Utility Vehicles tested, several earned 4-stars for rollover rating, including the Ford Freestyle, Acura MDX and Honda CR-V.

* = During the side-impact test, the driver door became unlatched and swung open. The Rendezvous is equipped with standard Automatic Door Locks (ADL). NHTSA test protocol disables ADL during testing. A General Motors test showed that the door remained closed under similar test conditions when the ADL was activated. A door opening during a side impact crash increases the likelihood of occupant ejection. This test result is a carryover from earlier model years.

** = During the side-impact test, the head of the left rear passenger dummy struck the side upper interior structure, causing a high head acceleration. High head accelerations have a higher likelihood of serious head trauma.

Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7x are corporate twins of one another and share the same test results for the frontal crash results. With the exception of the Saab 9-7x, they also share the same side crash results.

NT = Not Tested

Shaded areas indicate new crash test results.

w/SABS = with side air bags

(1): If involved in a single-vehicle crash

(2): The rollover results are valid for vehicles produced after February 28, 2005, when ESC became standard.

(3): The rollover results are valid for vehicles produced after January 28, 2005, when ESC became standard.

(4): The rollover results are valid for 4-wheel drive models produced after the date of November 29, 2004 with ESC as an option and for all vehicles produced after January 28, 2005, when ESC became standard.

(5): The rollover results are valid for vehicles produced on or after May 16, 2005 and to those whose software has been modified as part of a customer service campaign that was initiated by the manufacturer in June 2005.

Cadillac Escalade EXT and Chevrolet Avalanche are corporate twins of one another and share the same test results.

Cadillac ESV, Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL are corporate twins of one another and share the same test results.

Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon are corporate twins of one another and share the same test results.

* = indicates vehicle tested with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as a standard feature

Shaded areas indicate new rollover test results.

(Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)