Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer Fail IIHS Front Crash Test

Two of America’s most popular SUVs performed badly in a crash test designed to show how well front-seat passengers are protected in a violent collision. The Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer were among eight SUVs the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently subjected to its small overlap front crash test, which mimics a particularly violent and dangerous type of collision. They were the only ones to earn the rating of "poor," the worst of four possible ratings. In the test, a vehicle is propelled at 40 miles an hour and strikes a barrier with just the outermost part of the bumper on the passenger’s side.