Headlight ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grade how far low beams reach and how much glare they throw at oncoming drivers. Plenty of popular models still carry Poor or Marginal lighting, and in some cases the weak setup is the only one offered. Here are twelve vehicles where the testing found shortfalls, with the specifics each source reported.
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1. Chevrolet Equinox: Glare Over the Limit
IIHS rated the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox poor after its low beams exceeded the glare limit by 326.5 percent on the straightaway, as detailed by Dax Street’s roundup.
Excess glare affects other drivers on the road, not only the person behind the wheel. A night-time test drive and a look at the exact trim’s IIHS headlight rating are sensible steps, since ratings can differ by lighting package. Dealers can often explain what lighting options exist for a given trim, and it costs nothing to ask.
2. Jeep Wrangler: Three of Four Poor
IIHS rated three of the Jeep Wrangler’s four headlight systems poor, including the standard halogen reflectors, which were inadequate on both sides of the straightaway and on all four curves, according to the IIHS rating page.
Because the standard setup is among the failures, buyers who care about night visibility should look closely at which lighting package a given Wrangler carries. Checking the rating for that exact configuration avoids surprises.
3. Nissan Sentra: Short Reach on the Left
The 2025 Nissan Sentra drew a poor headlight rating, with low beams lighting just 10.7 meters on the left side of the straightaway, as reported by SlashGear’s safety list.
A short beam distance leaves less time to react to a hazard at speed. Shoppers considering a Sentra can compare trims, ask about headlight upgrades, and drive it after dark to judge visibility for themselves. Drivers who regularly travel dark back roads have the most to gain from checking this detail before buying.
4. Jeep Compass: Only Two Trims Marginal
The Jeep Compass headlights were rated poor on all trims except the Limited and Trailhawk, which managed only marginal, according to SlashGear’s reporting.
Even the best-performing Compass trims reached only a marginal grade, so no version earns a clean bill of health here. Buyers can confirm the trim-specific rating before choosing a package, and treat lighting as part of the overall safety comparison. It is also worth remembering that ratings can change as automakers update lighting for later model years.
5. Ford Bronco: Marginal on a Trail Rig
The 2026 Ford Bronco received marginal headlights in the IIHS midsize SUV class table, listed on the IIHS class summary.
The class table gives a quick way to compare lighting across rival SUVs, and a marginal grade means room for improvement rather than outright failure. Anyone planning night driving on unlit roads may want to prioritize visibility during a test drive. Ratings are updated over time, so checking the current table before buying keeps the information fresh.
6. Kia Telluride: Good and Marginal
The 2027 Kia Telluride earned Good on one headlight type and Marginal on another, according to the IIHS midsize SUV table.
The split result shows why the specific lighting equipment matters more than the model name alone. Buyers can ask the dealer which headlight type a particular Telluride has and compare it with the IIHS listing before deciding. Reading the full IIHS entry takes only a few minutes and clarifies which lighting hardware earned which grade.
7. Tesla Cybertruck: Poor by Design
The Tesla Cybertruck comes only with poor-rated headlights, according to IIHS findings covered by Jalopnik’s explainer on the headlight rating rules.
Unlike models with an upgrade path, this truck offers no better lighting option to choose. Prospective owners can weigh that limitation against the vehicle’s other strengths and consider how often they drive on dark roads. The rating is one factor among many, but good night visibility helps every driver on the road, not just the owner.
8. Cadillac Lyriq: Poor in the Award Release
The Cadillac Lyriq had its headlights rated poor, as noted in the IIHS award release of April 22, 2025, published in an IIHS news item.
The mention came in a release about models qualifying for IIHS awards, a reminder that strong crash results do not always come with strong lighting. Shoppers can read the full ratings for the Lyriq before assuming the whole package is top-tier. Checking the current IIHS listing is the simplest way to see whether anything has changed since that release.
9. BMW i4: Marginal or Poor Only
The BMW i4 is available only with marginal or poor headlights, according to the September 2025 electric vehicle ratings in IIHS’s EV release.
Since neither available setup earned a better grade, there is no clean workaround within the lineup. Buyers drawn to the i4 can weigh that against its other qualities and test the lights after dark on a familiar road. IIHS publishes ratings by trim and equipment, so reading the detailed entry before buying is worthwhile.
10. Lincoln Corsair: One Poor Setup
The 2026 Lincoln Corsair carries one headlight type rated Poor, according to the IIHS small SUV table.
With only one of the available systems listed as poor, the lighting package chosen at purchase makes a real difference. Shoppers can ask which system a specific Corsair uses and compare it with the current IIHS listing. Comparing the posted ratings for competing small SUVs offers useful context when lighting is a priority.
11. Nissan Frontier: Tested Setup Fell Short
The 2024 Nissan Frontier’s tested configuration was rated Poor, according to Dax Street’s article on new cars whose headlights failed IIHS testing.
A pickup used on rural roads leans heavily on its headlights, so the rating deserves attention. Buyers can look up the exact trim, ask about alternative lighting, and take a night drive before committing. Ratings for a specific year and trim are published by IIHS, which makes side-by-side comparison straightforward.
12. Chevrolet Trailblazer: Mixed Results
The 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer scored Acceptable on one headlight and Poor on another, per the IIHS small SUV table.
A mixed result means the trim and lighting option chosen decide whether the vehicle lands in the better or worse group. Prospective owners can verify the headlight type on a specific vehicle and compare it with the posted rating. Small SUV shoppers can use the same IIHS table to compare rival models and see how their lighting stacks up.
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