Is the third-row of SUVs safe for occupants in a rear crash?
Aug 04, 2021
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Spacious three-row SUVs are getting increasingly popular day by day, as these bulky vehicles entice the majority of the family-oriented audience thanks to the extra convenience offered by the extra row of seats. As the demand for these gigantic vehicles increase, trucks and SUVs keep getting bigger with increased interior room and cargo space for the passengers. Such is the demand for an extra 3rd-row of seats, that even small SUVs like the Mitsubishi Outlander or Nissan Rogue, or hatchbacks such as the Mazda5 are experimenting with this gimmick.However, recent research by Consumer Reports brought the safety of the third row of seats in an SUV or a pickup truck into question. When it comes to car safety, Consumer Reports have always provided a reliable source of information to drivers of all vehicle types. Thus, when a trustworthy source like Consumer Reports raises a concern on the safety of the 3rd-row seats, safety-conscious families are getting anxious regarding the safety of their children or other passengers. So is that used Cadillac Escalade for sale that you have been considering acquiring as a family asset really safe in the event of a crash?
The investigation carried out by Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports recently addressed all the safety concerns put forth by conscious families, regarding the safety of the 3rd-row seats. While it is true that people who are close to the vehicle’s rear, especially children are more vulnerable to harm during the event of a rear crash, there is limited data available to back up this bold claim. Consumer Reports admitted that the safety of the passengers in the 3rd-row seats is still a question left to be answered.
“There’s not a lot of real-world crash data for third-row seating,” said Consumer Reports’ auto safety engineer Emily Thomas. There aren’t any reliable sources of crash data available to judge the safety of the 3rd-row seat, partly because these seats were left unoccupied in most crashes. Further, automakers don’t conduct any rear crash tests with dummies as there hasn’t been any proof of a vulnerability regarding the 3rd-row seats. Currently, there is no test available to judge the safety quotient of a car in a rear-end collision.
Hopefully, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is soon planning to come up with a solid solution. The agency has been working tirelessly to improve the results of three-row SUV crash testing. Most of the crash tests use the test dummies in the scenario of a frontal collision. However, owing to the rising popularity of 7 or 8-passenger vehicles, we can expect IIHS to introduce a safety test for rear impact collisions as well.
Other investigations regarding three-row SUV safety
In the event of a rear collision, the third-row passengers are very close to the impact point of the collision. However, as per multiple crash test agencies, collisions involved with the vehicle's rear end were found to be quite rare. Third-row passengers are well protected against the impact of a front-end collision as they are further away from the impact point. Generally, front-end collisions are more common and harmful in nature. The biggest vulnerability for third-row passengers is when the passenger seated is an adult, without any adequate head restraint and three-point seat belts. If you have children, a properly installed child seat is often more secure.
Another important fact is that three rows of seats are usually found in large SUVs and trucks. These bigger vehicles offer exemplary levels of crash protection. As a matter of fact, the rate of serious injuries caused by an accident for children in minivans was only half the rate found in passenger cars. SUVs finished within a close second position.
Again, with the growing trend of smaller SUVs or hatchbacks with a 3rd-row seating, these seats were discovered to be much closer than the tailgate. Thus, in the event of a severe crash, there was little crush space available to sustain the impact, making these small vehicles more vulnerable. However, the rarity of rear-end collisions and the low probability of occupancy in the third-row seats establishes all these safety concerns as irrelevant.
Keeping children and other passengers safe in three-row SUVs or trucks
Regardless of whether the 3rd-row is less safe or not, you should be taking precautions from your side to ensure the safety of your children or other family members seated at the back end of your vehicle. Before you set off on your journey, make sure that every child and family member is properly bucked up.
Children have a habit of sliding out of the seatbelts or not buckling at all. Consumer Reports suggest that the shoulder belt should be centered across the collarbone and chest while the lap belt should be positioned across the hips. Also, confirm that all safety belts are fitted correctly before you benign your drive.
If possible, keep children seated in the middle row. The seat in the center of the row is the safest position for the children to be seated, as it is furthest away from the side impact points. To maximize safety, equip the middle seat with three-point safety belts and adequate head restraint. Avoid seating young children in the front passenger seat.
Similarly, while buying an SUV with three rows of seats, you should always settle for an SUV with side-curtain bags that protect all three rows. If your children have overgrown the child seats, equip your car with lap-and-shoulder belts and head restraints as high as the top of their ears.
Buyers can always refer to the NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings for SUVs with the best safety records. Also, shell out some extra bucks for advanced crash avoidance technologies like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor, radars, and high-resolution cameras. Always read the owner's manual to know all the weight limitations and restrictions of your respective SUV or truck. Overloading your vehicle will only put you at enhanced risk of a collision, so it is best practice to tread carefully.