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In a new round of IIHS crash ratings, the Nissan Kicks earned a Good result in the updated moderate overlap front test after rear-seat belt changes. The Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer were rated Poor, while the Toyota RAV4 received Acceptable for hybrid models and Marginal for plug-in hybrids. The test result affected eligibility for IIHS Top Safety Pick awards.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has published updated crash-test results for several crossovers, and the Nissan Kicks was the only model in this group to earn a Good rating in the institute’s revised moderate overlap front test. The Kicks improved after Nissan changed its rear seat belts; the results also left the tested Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer with Poor ratings, while Toyota RAV4 versions received lower-than-Good scores. The test matters because a Good result is required for an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.
The updated results cover the Audi Q3, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Nissan Kicks and Toyota RAV4, including the RAV4 hybrid and plug-in hybrid. The Kicks earned a Good rating in the moderate overlap front test after initially receiving Poor. According to the source report, Nissan revised the rear seat belts on vehicles built after June 2026; the improvement applies to 2026 and 2027 models. The Kicks received a 2026 Top Safety Pick award, one level below Top Safety Pick+.
The 2026 Audi Q3 received Poor in the test, a result that also applies to 2027 models, despite Good ratings in every other category reported. The redesigned 2026 Toyota RAV4 received Acceptable with its standard hybrid powertrain and Marginal in plug-in hybrid form. The Trailblazer also received Poor in the moderate overlap test, and the source report says it had low ratings in other areas, including headlights and front-crash prevention technology.
The results are tied to the IIHS’s updated test rather than a broad determination that any vehicle is safe or unsafe in every driving situation. Ratings describe performance under the institute’s test procedures. The source report does not provide detailed injury measurements or explain the specific crash-test deficiencies for each model, so those details cannot be inferred from the rating labels alone.
How Test Scores Affect Awards
The ratings can influence both vehicle comparisons for buyers and the safety recognition automakers receive. Under the award criteria described in the report, a Good rating in the moderate overlap front test is required for a Top Safety Pick. The Q3’s otherwise Good results therefore did not qualify it for an award, while the Kicks’ revised performance helped it earn Top Safety Pick recognition.
The Kicks result also shows that ratings can change when manufacturers make design updates and vehicles are retested. For shoppers comparing crossovers, the model year and production timing matter: the reported Kicks improvement applies to vehicles built after June 2026, rather than necessarily to every Kicks already on the road. Buyers should check the rating and specifications for the exact model and build period they are considering.
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Why IIHS Revised the Test
The moderate overlap front test simulates a vehicle striking a barrier at 40 mph, with only part of the front end making contact. IIHS revised the test in 2022 to place greater emphasis on protection for people in the rear seat. The source report describes the updated procedure as a difficult hurdle for manufacturers.
IIHS is an insurance-industry-backed nonprofit that conducts its own vehicle-safety evaluations. Its tests and award criteria can change independently of federal crash-testing requirements, so a vehicle’s results under an updated IIHS procedure may differ from its performance under an earlier one. In this round, the Kicks had previously failed to earn the award when the current generation debuted for the 2025 model year, then qualified after the reported seat-belt changes and retest.
“The revised moderate overlap front test was changed to better account for rear-occupant safety.”
— The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as described in The Drive’s report
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Details Behind the Ratings
The source material does not include the IIHS’s full test data, video findings or detailed explanations of the injury measures and structural performance behind each score. It also does not provide exact production dates for all vehicles tested or say whether Audi, Chevrolet or Toyota has announced changes in response. The report’s description that the Kicks changes apply to vehicles built after June 2026 should be checked against the specific vehicle’s production information when comparing examples.
The ratings are specific to the tested configurations and procedure. The material does not establish how every trim, production batch or later revision would perform, nor does it quantify real-world crash outcomes. No conclusions beyond the published test grades should be drawn from the limited details provided.
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Automaker Responses and Retests
The next relevant development would be any design changes or further IIHS testing for the Q3, Trailblazer or RAV4. The source report does not identify announced fixes or a retest schedule for those models. Readers can look for updated IIHS ratings as new results are released and compare them with the production date and powertrain of the vehicle they are considering.
For the Kicks, the reported Good rating applies to vehicles with the revised rear seat belts built after June 2026. The available material does not say whether Nissan plans additional changes or testing beyond that result.
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Key Questions
Which crossover earned a Good rating in the updated test?
The Nissan Kicks earned Good in the IIHS moderate overlap front test after Nissan changed its rear seat belts on vehicles built after June 2026, according to the report.
How did the other crossovers perform?
The Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer received Poor. The Toyota RAV4 received Acceptable with its standard hybrid powertrain and Marginal in plug-in hybrid form.
Why did the Kicks’ rating change?
The report attributes the improvement to revised rear seat belts. The Kicks initially received Poor, then earned Good when retested after the changes.
Does a Good test score mean a vehicle is safe in every crash?
No. The rating reflects performance under a specific IIHS test procedure. It does not establish how a vehicle will perform in every crash or driving situation.
Why did the Audi Q3 miss an IIHS award?
The report says the Q3 received Good in every other category but Poor in the moderate overlap front test. A Good score in that test is required for a Top Safety Pick award.
Source: rss
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