One less thing to criticize SUV's for...

[PricklyPete]

I'm not one for much SUV/CUV love...but looks like one of the arguments against them is slowly becoming irrelevant...

http://www.insideline.com/nissan/350z/suv-drivers-least-likely-to-die-in-crash-says-iihs.html

 

[96Firebird]

This has been known for a couple of years now, it is the driver/passengers of the car the SUV hits that are in trouble. Nothing like a tank on the road that puts other drivers at risk.

I don't really have a problem with SUVs, my girlfriend has an older Blazer and while it sucks on gas, with the 4WD and ground clearance it does pretty well in the winter. I am just saying this is what other people will come back with...

 

[punjabiplaya]

physics wins again

 

[MotF Bane]

In today's obvious news category, how much money did IIHS waste figuring that out?

 

[PricklyPete]

This has been known for a couple of years now, it is the driver/passengers of the car the SUV hits that are in trouble. Nothing like a tank on the road that puts other drivers at risk.

I don't really have a problem with SUVs, my girlfriend has an older Blazer and while it sucks on gas, with the 4WD and ground clearance it does pretty well in the winter. I am just saying this is what other people will come back with...

True...but as long as semis, work trucks, etc are on the same roads as us...can you really blame someone for getting an SUV/CUV to stand the best chance?

 

[PricklyPete]

In today's obvious news category, how much money did IIHS waste figuring that out?

Not sure how obvious this is since I commonly see people criticizing SUV's for being death traps on wheels because they roll over and such.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Things that you can still critizice SUV's for:

Waste of Gas
Danger to smaller cars on the road
Easier to Roll Over

 

[mmntech]

Not sure how obvious this is since I commonly see people criticizing SUV's for being death traps on wheels because they roll over and such.

They used to be. Not so much anymore. Especially since they've gotten smaller and have lower centres of gravity than in the past.

I'm not a fan of big SUVs like the Yukon or Acadia. I wouldn't mind getting something like a Sportage or Tucson though. The Lincoln MKX is one of my favorite vehicles to drive. However, I think I still prefer the handling of a car.

 

[PricklyPete]

They used to be. Not so much anymore. Especially since they've gotten smaller and have lower centres of gravity than in the past.

I'm not a fan of big SUVs like the Yukon or Acadia. I wouldn't mind getting something like a Sportage or Tucson though. The Lincoln MKX is one of my favorite vehicles to drive. However, I think I still prefer the handling of a car.

No doubt. I am constantly arguing against my wife about getting an SUV (she has always wanted one). This just takes one less thing off my list of arguments which was that a car was safer.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Loving my XC60

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

One thing they failed to take into account is the still-large problem of bumper incompatibility between cars and SUVs.

See here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_k_kK4vEbk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdIkOkvMJSE

 

[ElFenix]

as "SUVs" further become minivans with regular doors (is that a first gen honda odyssey i see there?), they're becoming more minivan like. who would have thought?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I still wouldn't buy one.

 

[Kirby]

I still wouldn't buy one.

We know.

 

[bruceb]

I would and may consider it as a replacement for my car in about 2-3 years. Biggest issue with SUV's are a lot of the drivers of them, simply do not understand how to set the mirrors to avoid blind spots when they do lane changes. I see them cutting off other vehicles all too often.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

One thing they failed to take into account is the still-large problem of bumper incompatibility between cars and SUVs.

See here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_k_kK4vEbk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdIkOkvMJSE

To make it even worse, the IIHS vids don't account for both cars braking, which puts the car even further underneath the suv.

A long time ago a girl in an early 90's accord rear ended me in my ford ranger (we were both braking). I had to drive my tiny stock truck off the front of her car..

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

To make it even worse, the IIHS vids don't account for both cars braking, which puts the car even further underneath the suv.

A long time ago a girl in an early 90's accord rear ended me in my ford ranger (we were both braking). I had to drive my tiny stock truck off the front of her car..

That's true.

Now that I think about it, they try to account for braking by conducting the tests at 40MPH. Like you mention, though, they fail to account for the fact that while braking the car has a lower bumper height, which can impact its effectiveness.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Things that you can still critizice SUV's for:

Waste of Gas
Danger to smaller cars on the road
Easier to Roll Over

Your first one is subjective. It is dependent on what the owner does. I don't see mine as a waste of gas because I do load up and haul equipment every so often. My old car couldn't do that.

Second one, I guess... but if someone chooses to drive around in a smart car death trap, well, that's kind of their problem...

Third, yes, that's a given. ANYTHING that sits higher is easier to roll over. A minivan is easier to roll over than a car too. Physics. Just drive like a sane person and you don't have that much increased risk of a rollover.

 

[marvdmartian]

What that headline should read, is, "SUV drivers most likely to cause crash, but survive it".

Seems that most of the idiot drivers of the 80's and 90's, who used to drive little Hondas and Toyotas, now drive overbearing behemoths (aka "SUV's"). They still can't drive worth a damn, but hey, they're safer now......it's just everyone else who's at risk!! :hmm:

 

[Doppel]

I think this has been apparent for years. Many are trading them up anyway, $4 gas has a tendency to do start sucking ass when you're getting 16 mpg.

 

[3chordcharlie]

True...but as long as semis, work trucks, etc are on the same roads as us...can you really blame someone for getting an SUV/CUV to stand the best chance?

As long as their are lamp posts, why worry? Semi drivers are generally quite a bit more attentive than the rest of us, and we are more likely to hit the lamp post with no help at all than be run over by a semi.

 

[rh71]

Not sure how obvious this is since I commonly see people criticizing SUV's for being death traps on wheels because they roll over and such.

Feast your eyes on this Ford Exploder.

This happened the other day closing all 4 lanes of the LIE. Single-vehicle accident... the rear driver-side wheel blew out, flipped 5 times, driver killed, 4 passengers ejected were not.

Anyway, I'd still rather be in an SUV if safety was the main factor.

 

[Eli]

Feast your eyes on this Ford Exploder.

This happened the other day closing all 4 lanes of the LIE. Single-vehicle accident... the rear driver-side wheel blew out, flipped 5 times, driver killed, 4 passengers ejected were not.

Anyway, I'd still rather be in an SUV if safety was the main factor.

The driver died? From what? Doesn't look like a very bad accident overall...

They must have all not been wearing their seatbelts.

 

[thescreensavers]

ESC reduces roll over rates by over 50% in SUV's now its much much harder to over correct and flip the car.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Feeling safe in my 6,000 pound f150.
:biggrin: