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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety retested several crossovers under its updated moderate overlap front crash test. The Nissan Kicks earned a Good rating after Nissan changed the rear seat belts on vehicles built after June 2026; the Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer were rated Poor, while the Toyota RAV4 received Acceptable or Marginal ratings depending on powertrain.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released updated crash-test results for several crossovers, with the Nissan Kicks the only model in the group to earn a Good rating in the updated moderate overlap front test. Nissan made a change to rear seat belts on vehicles built after June 2026, allowing the Kicks to improve from a Poor score in its initial test and qualify for a 2026 Top Safety Pick award.
The IIHS also tested the Audi Q3, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Toyota RAV4, including the RAV4 hybrid and plug-in hybrid. The redesigned 2026 Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer both received Poor ratings in the moderate overlap test. The 2026 RAV4 received an Acceptable rating with its standard hybrid powertrain and a Marginal rating in plug-in hybrid form.
The ratings carry consequences for IIHS awards. A Good score in the moderate overlap front test is required for a Top Safety Pick award. The Q3 was rated Good in its other tested categories, but its Poor result in this test disqualified it from an award. The Trailblazer also received low ratings in other areas, including headlights and front-crash prevention technology, according to the report.
The Kicks’ updated result applies to vehicles built after June 2026, including 2026 and 2027 models, the source report says. The earlier test of the current-generation Kicks had produced a Poor rating. The IIHS awarded the revised model a 2026 Top Safety Pick, one tier below Top Safety Pick+.
Rear-Seat Protection Drives Awards
The results show how a change to one test can affect a vehicle’s safety rating and award eligibility, even when its performance in other categories is strong. For shoppers comparing these crossovers, the moderate overlap score separates the Kicks from the other models tested and flags differences in how each vehicle performed in a crash scenario that includes rear-seat occupants.
The Kicks result also illustrates that test ratings can change when automakers revise a vehicle. Nissan’s seat-belt update improved the score after the original test, while the other results identify areas where the Q3, RAV4 and Trailblazer did not meet the IIHS’s Good threshold. A rating is not a guarantee of an outcome in every crash, but it offers consumers a standardized comparison across tested vehicles.
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How the Updated Test Works
In the moderate overlap front test, a vehicle travels at 40 mph and strikes a barrier with only part of its front end making contact. The IIHS changed the test’s parameters in 2022 to better account for the safety of people riding in the rear seat. The updated assessment has proved difficult for some vehicles to pass, according to the source report.
The IIHS is an insurance-industry-backed nonprofit that conducts crash tests and issues vehicle safety ratings. Its tests and award criteria can be revised without the legislative process that governs federal vehicle safety standards. When criteria change, automakers may need to adjust vehicle designs to meet the newer benchmark; the Kicks retest is an example of such a change.
“The updated moderate overlap front test is designed to better account for rear-occupant safety.”
— The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as described in The Drive report
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What the Ratings Do Not Show
The source material does not provide detailed injury measurements, individual test scores beyond the overall ratings, or a full account of the specific performance issues in each vehicle. It also does not state whether Audi, Chevrolet or Toyota has announced plans to make changes in response to the results. The ratings concern the IIHS test conditions and should not be read as a prediction of how every vehicle will perform in every real-world collision.
The report identifies the Kicks’ rear seat-belt change and the build-date threshold, but does not describe the modification in technical detail. Buyers should check the model year and production date of a specific vehicle rather than assume every Kicks carries the revised equipment.
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Automaker Responses and Retests
The next development to watch is whether Audi, Chevrolet or Toyota makes safety changes that address the shortcomings identified by IIHS, and whether the institute later retests those vehicles. No such plans are confirmed in the supplied report. Further ratings or updated test results could change the vehicles’ award eligibility.
Consumers considering one of these crossovers can review the IIHS rating for the exact model and powertrain, especially for the two RAV4 versions, which received different scores. The published results do not establish when any further tests or manufacturer updates may occur.
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Key Questions
Which crossover earned a Good rating in the updated test?
The Nissan Kicks earned a Good rating after Nissan changed rear seat belts on vehicles built after June 2026.
How did the other crossovers score?
The Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer received Poor ratings. The Toyota RAV4 was rated Acceptable in standard hybrid form and Marginal as a plug-in hybrid.
Why did the test change?
The IIHS revised the moderate overlap front test in 2022 to better account for rear-seat occupant safety. The test involves a vehicle traveling at 40 mph and striking a barrier with part of its front end.
Did the Audi Q3 qualify for a Top Safety Pick award?
No. Although the Q3 received Good ratings in its other categories, its Poor moderate overlap result prevented it from qualifying under the award requirements described in the report.
Have the other automakers said they will make changes?
The supplied report does not confirm plans from Audi, Chevrolet or Toyota to revise the tested vehicles. Any future changes or retests remain unknown.
Source: rss
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