The Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport SUVs recently faced scrutiny in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) latest safety evaluations, falling short of the requirements for a coveted Top Safety Pick designation. The IIHS, a research organization funded by the insurance industry, rigorously tests vehicles to assess their crashworthiness and safety features.
The primary concern highlighted by the IIHS was the heightened risk of injuries for rear-seat passengers in both Bronco models during specific crash scenarios. Specifically, the Bronco Sport raised concerns due to potential head and neck injuries in the back seat.
Out of nine vehicles tested, only six earned the Top Safety Pick+ award, showcasing the stringency of the IIHS's criteria. The Volkswagen Taos, alongside the two Ford SUVs, received "adequate" ratings due to shortcomings in certain tests.
In crash simulations, both Broncos exhibited an increased risk of chest injuries for rear occupants. The Taos struggled in the front crash test and also faced issues with its headlights and pedestrian crash avoidance system.
Ford responded to the results with a statement emphasizing that both Bronco models meet or exceed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) regulatory requirements. The company also noted that both SUVs have earned 5-star overall ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
To achieve a Top Safety Pick+ or the lower-tier Top Safety Pick award, vehicles must demonstrate strong performance in several key areas. These include the small overlap front crash test, updated side tests, pedestrian front crash prevention, and headlight quality.
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle's front end impacts another vehicle or object. The updated side test assesses occupant protection in side-impact collisions.
A good rating in the updated moderate overlap front test is required to earn Top Safety Pick+. This test simulates a head-on collision with 40% overlap and focuses on rear-seat passenger safety.
The 2025 vehicles achieving the Top Safety Pick+ ranking include the Hyundai Elantra, Kia K4, Toyota Prius, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota bZ4X, and Nissan Murano.
Notably, the Top Safety Pick+ award applies only to specific production dates for some models, indicating improvements made by manufacturers to enhance rear occupant protection.
The Ford Bronco missed the award due to marginal ratings for headlights, pedestrian front crash prevention, and moderate overlap crash performance, where the rear dummy showed an elevated risk of chest injuries.
The Ford Bronco Sport's failure stemmed from the rear dummy's lap belt sliding upwards during the moderate overlap test, increasing the potential for abdominal injuries. High injury measurements for the driver's pelvis also contributed to its "acceptable" rating in the updated side test.
The Volkswagen Taos received an "acceptable" rating in the small overlap front test due to structural issues with the safety cage. It also struggled in the updated moderate overlap front test and received subpar ratings for headlights and pedestrian crash avoidance.