SUV Crash Test Results Vary Greatly Between Makes

DENVER (CBS4) - There's no denying midsize SUVs are a popular car make in Colorado. A recent crash test study shows that some SUV models are not as safe as believed.

Seven SUVs were tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and only three of those performed well.

The Nissan Murano came out on top, earning a "good" rating. The Ford Flex and The Jeep Wrangler four-door also received high marks.

Ford Flex in crash test (credit: CBS)

The Dodge Durango, Jeep Cherokee, and Hyundai Santa Fe all did poorly. The worst performing SUV was the Dodge Journey.

The institute said they changed the way they test to reflect the most common types of crashes.

"When you look around at junkyards, to vehicles that have been in crashes, you rarely see the kind of damage that occurs from a flat wall," said David Zuby of the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.

The IIHS says automakers have made big improvements, mainly to airbags and the strength of the front of their vehicles.

Last year the Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, Kia Sorento, and Nissan Pathfinder earned top picks.