When considering a new SUV, safety is paramount for families. One crucial aspect to evaluate is the SUV rating, often presented as an Overall Vehicle Score. This rating, typically shown in stars, is designed to give you a quick understanding of a vehicle’s safety performance in the event of a crash. But what does this SUV rating really mean, and how should you interpret it when choosing the safest SUV for your needs?
The Overall Vehicle Score is calculated using a complex system that estimates the probability of injury in different types of accidents. This includes frontal crashes, side impacts, and rollover incidents. These probabilities are weighted based on real-world accident statistics to reflect how often each type of crash occurs and the severity of injuries typically associated with them. The result is then compared to the average injury risk across all vehicles. This comparison determines the star rating, allowing you to see if an SUV offers better, worse, or average protection compared to other vehicles on the road.
Here’s a breakdown of what each star level in an SUV rating signifies regarding overall injury risk:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Injury risk is much less than average.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Injury risk is less than average to average.
- ⭐⭐⭐: Injury risk is average to greater than average.
- ⭐⭐: Injury risk is greater than average.
- ⭐: Injury risk is much greater than average.
It’s essential to understand the limitations when using Suv Ratings for comparison. Because the Overall Vehicle Score is partially based on frontal crash test results, comparisons are only truly valid between vehicles within the same class and with similar weights. Specifically, you can only compare SUVs to other vehicles that are within 250 pounds of its weight.
For example, you cannot directly compare the SUV rating of a large, heavy SUV, like one weighing 4,500 pounds, to a small, lightweight sedan weighing only 3,000 pounds. These vehicles are in different classes and exceed the weight difference threshold, making a direct safety rating comparison misleading. Similarly, comparing the rating of a 3,600-pound pickup truck to a 3,400-pound minivan is also inappropriate because they are different vehicle classes, even though their weights are close.
However, it is perfectly valid to compare the SUV ratings of two SUVs, or even an SUV and a passenger car, if they are in the same vehicle class and their weights are within that 250-pound range. For instance, you could compare a 3,400-pound passenger car with a 3,650-pound passenger car because they are in the same class and meet the weight requirement.
In conclusion, when researching SUV ratings, remember that the Overall Vehicle Score is a valuable tool for understanding relative safety performance. Focus on SUV ratings to compare vehicles within the SUV class and pay attention to the weight limitations for accurate comparisons. By understanding how these ratings are calculated and interpreted, you can make a more informed decision and prioritize safety when choosing your next SUV.
