IIHS made its moderate overlap front crash test tougher, and several vehicles that once looked comfortable now fall short. The updated evaluation exposes weaknesses that earlier results had not shown, including in models that families buy in large numbers. Here are ten family haulers that earned only Marginal once the new standard arrived.
1. Toyota Sienna: Minivan Falls Short
The Sienna, a Toyota mainstay of family transport, earns Marginal in the updated moderate overlap front test, as the Sienna updated front test shows. The tougher standard exposes weaknesses that earlier results had not highlighted.
Minivan buyers often choose on the assumption that the segment is the safest option for children. The Sienna’s grade shows why checking current results matters, and why a vehicle’s reputation should not substitute for the latest evaluation before a purchase. That is worth knowing before shopping.
2. Kia Carnival: Carnival Joins It
The Kia Carnival lands at Marginal in the same updated front-crash evaluation, according to the Carnival front crash evaluation. Two popular minivans now share a grade that sits well below the Good rating most shoppers hope to see.
Anyone cross-shopping the Carnival against the Sienna will find little separating them on this particular test. Weigh the result alongside other crash grades, seating comfort and price, and consider whether the segment’s remaining options can offer a stronger showing. It is a fair point to raise at the dealership.
3. Toyota Highlander: Best-Seller, Marginal Grade
The Highlander from Toyota is a three-row best-seller, and the Highlander three-row result rates it Marginal under the toughened front test. For a vehicle that carries so many families, the result is hard to ignore.
Highlander owners need not panic, since Marginal describes performance against a harder standard, not a collapse in safety. Prospective buyers should simply know it, and compare how rivals in the three-row class fared before deciding which vehicle suits a growing household. The grade is simple to verify.
4. Toyota Land Cruiser: Off-Road Pedigree, Marginal Crash Grade
Land Cruiser buyers get a legendary off-road reputation, yet the Land Cruiser crash test grade rates the Toyota Marginal. Toughness on a trail does not translate directly into protection in a moderate overlap collision.
Buyers attracted by the Land Cruiser’s heritage should separate capability from crash performance. It can climb nearly anything, but the front-test grade says its occupant protection in a common crash type is only middling, a point worth weighing against the price. Price does not change that.
5. Toyota Tacoma: Crew Cab Struggles
Midsize pickups face the same test, and the Tacoma crew cab comes up Marginal in the updated version, according to the Tacoma updated test grade. The grade puts the truck behind where the institute wants it.
Tacoma shoppers who haul passengers as often as cargo should note that the crew cab is the version tested. Safety-minded buyers may want to look at what competing pickups achieved before settling on a truck that otherwise has a strong following. The comparison takes only minutes.
6. Ford Maverick: Compact Pickup, Same Verdict
Smaller does not mean safer or worse here. The Ford Maverick, a compact pickup, also lands at Marginal in the Maverick front crash grade, matching larger trucks that earned the same grade under the tougher test.
The Maverick appeals to buyers wanting an affordable, practical truck, and its crash grade is a trade-off to weigh against the low price. Shoppers should check how competitors compare and decide whether the savings justify a middling result in this front-crash test. The answer will differ by household.
7. GMC Canyon: Canyon Matches the Pack
The GMC Canyon posts a Marginal moderate overlap front result in the GMC Canyon overlap result. That puts the pickup in the same bracket as several rivals, with no clear advantage for buyers comparing trucks in the class.
Midsize truck shoppers will need other differences to decide, such as towing, interior and price. The crash result is worth keeping in mind though, especially for those who carry family members regularly, since a stronger front-crash grade is a meaningful advantage. The result is simple to confirm.
8. Nissan Kicks: Small Crossover, Tough Test
The Nissan Kicks is a budget-friendly small crossover, and the Nissan Kicks front test shows it only Marginal in the tougher front-crash test. The harder standard exposes limits that earlier assessments would have missed.
For first-time buyers and commuters watching their budget, the Kicks remains attractive on price, but the grade is a real trade-off. Compare it against alternatives in the class before signing, and ask how much extra a higher-rated model would cost in practice. A quick comparison is worth the time.
9. Ford Bronco Sport: Small Off-Roader Slips
Ford’s Bronco Sport earns a Marginal result for the small off-roader in the Bronco Sport crash grade. Rugged styling and trail-ready marketing do not shield it from the more demanding front-crash standard that the institute now applies.
Owners who buy the Bronco Sport for weekend adventures should remember that most driving happens on ordinary roads. The crash grade matters there, and it is sensible to compare it with other compact crossovers before deciding whether the character is worth the compromise. A closer look is cheap. That is worth a second look.
10. Toyota Crown Signia: Strong Elsewhere, Weak Here
Toyota’s Crown Signia stands out because it is Marginal even with Good grades elsewhere, as the Crown Signia front test shows. A strong overall record cannot hide the weakness exposed by the tougher front test.
This result is a useful reminder that one grade never tells the whole story. Buyers attracted to the Signia’s other strong ratings should still weigh the front-crash result, since it describes a common real-world collision and may matter more than the rest. That makes it worth a second look.
More from Morning Overview
- General Motors is switching on cameras that record inside your vehicle by update
- A geomagnetic storm is forecast to hit Earth today, pushing the northern lights unusually far south
- A recalled pill hid a stimulant dose linked to heart attacks and death
- Four U.S. startups fired up their first small nuclear reactors, aiming to power AI data centers on-site
