The Jeep Wrangler, a popular SUV known for its off-road capabilities, underwent redesigns starting in 2018. This analysis focuses on the 2020 model year, which falls under the redesigned series (2018-2021 models). It’s important to distinguish this from the older Wrangler JK models produced concurrently for part of the 2018 model year. This safety evaluation is based on rigorous driver-side small overlap frontal crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
During the IIHS tests, a concerning outcome was observed in both Institute-conducted trials: the Jeep Wrangler tipped onto its passenger side after impacting the barrier. This partial rollover event presents a significant safety concern, adding injury risks beyond those typically measured in standard frontal crash assessments. Such a rollover is not considered an acceptable result in a frontal collision, leading to a downgrade of the Jeep Wrangler’s overall safety rating to marginal in the small overlap frontal test.
Despite this rollover issue, the Wrangler demonstrated “Good” performance in several key structural and safety aspects of the crash test.
Structural Performance and Occupant Compartment
The structural integrity of the Jeep Wrangler 2020 held up well in the crash. The safety cage was rated as “Good,” indicating that the structure effectively resisted collapse, maintaining critical survival space for the driver. Measurements taken after the crash showed minimal intrusion into the driver’s occupant compartment.
Image alt text: Post-crash dummy position inside a 2020 Jeep Wrangler, showing maintained survival space and good structural integrity during the IIHS small overlap frontal test.
Analysis of the dummy’s position relative to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel confirmed that the driver’s survival space was indeed well-maintained. This suggests that in a real-world crash of similar severity, the risk of structural compromise of the occupant space would be low.
Driver Restraints and Injury Measures
In terms of driver-specific injury measures, the Jeep Wrangler 2020 also achieved “Good” ratings across all categories assessed in the small overlap frontal test. These categories include head and neck protection, chest protection, and hip and thigh protection, as well as lower leg and foot protection.
The restraint systems and dummy kinematics were also rated as “Good.” The tests indicated that the dummy’s movement was well-controlled during the crash sequence. The frontal airbag effectively engaged and remained in position to protect the dummy’s head until rebound.
Image alt text: Airbag deployment in a 2020 Jeep Wrangler during a small overlap frontal crash test, showing frontal airbag engagement and side airbag limitations.
The combination head and torso side airbag deployed; however, it was noted that it lacks sufficient forward coverage to adequately protect the head from contacting forward side structures or external objects. Notably, the Jeep Wrangler 2020 model as tested does not include side curtain airbags, which are typically designed to provide enhanced head protection in side-impact and rollover scenarios.
Image alt text: Leg and foot injury risk assessment for the driver in a 2020 Jeep Wrangler small overlap frontal crash test, indicating low risk of lower extremity injuries.
Data from the crash tests indicated a low risk of injuries to the dummy’s legs and feet. This further supports the “Good” rating for lower leg and foot injury measures.
Rollover Risk and Overall Safety Assessment
Despite the “Good” ratings in structural performance and driver injury measures, the partial rollover observed in the small overlap frontal crash tests significantly impacts the overall safety assessment of the Jeep Wrangler 2020.
Image alt text: 2020 Jeep Wrangler partial rollover during an IIHS small overlap frontal crash test, highlighting the added injury risk beyond standard crash criteria.
The rollover introduces additional injury risks that are not accounted for in standard crash test criteria. This critical issue led to the “Marginal” overall rating for the Jeep Wrangler 2020 in the driver-side small overlap frontal test.
Technical Measurements
Detailed technical measurements from the crash tests, including occupant compartment intrusion and specific driver injury metrics, are available for in-depth analysis. These measurements provide engineers and safety experts with precise data to further evaluate and improve vehicle safety design. These technical details offer a deeper understanding of the vehicle’s performance under crash conditions.
In conclusion, while the Jeep Wrangler 2020 demonstrates good structural integrity and occupant protection in many aspects of the small overlap frontal crash test, the identified rollover risk is a serious safety concern. This rollover contributed to a marginal rating in this specific test, highlighting an area for potential safety improvement in future Jeep Wrangler models.
