The 2021 Buick Encore left room for improvement in a recent safety evaluation conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The IIHS recently implemented a revised side impact crashworthiness evaluation test, which uses a heavier deformable barrier than previous iterations of the test. The barrier in the new test also has a lower impact profile, with a frontal crumple zone that performs more like a modern-day crossover might and travels at a higher rate of speed.
The safety watchdog reevaluated nearly all small SUVs on sale today using this revised format, with many crossovers putting up a substandard performance. The 2021 Buick Encore actually performed admirably given its age, with the IIHS awarding it a rating of ‘Average’. This was a superior performance than the 2021 Chevy Equinox, which, despite being a larger and newer vehicle, received a rating of ‘Marginal’. The Encore was close to receiving the best-possible rating of ‘Good’, but showed less-than-adequate driver torso protection, bumping it to an ‘Average’ rating.
Only one small SUV received a rating of ‘Good’ in the newly revised IIHS side impact test, the Mazda CX-5. A total of nine vehicles received an ‘Average’ rating, with eight vehicles receiving a ‘Marginal’ rating. The poorest-performing vehicle were the Honda HR-V and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, which received the worst-possible rating of ‘Poor’. In this test, the barrier tore through the Honda HR-V’s B-pillar, allowing it to protrude deep into the driver’s seat.
The 2021 Buick Encore has an overall IIHS evaluation score of ‘Good’ – which is the highest-possible regular rating it gives out. The Encore is neither an IIHS Top Safety Pick nor IIHS Top Safety Pick+, however, which are awards given to vehicles with a good crashworthiness evaluation score, as well as up-to-date and well-performing active safety technology.
The video of the 2021 Buick Encore side-impact test is embedded below. We’ve also included a separate video that goes over the IIHS’ findings after the newly revised side impact test was implemented.
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Comments
Two thoughts:
1. I’m really glad IIHS does this. They’ve most assuredly countless saved lives and made vehicles infinitely safer with their 30 year push for automotive safety. They are far more effective than the government’s NHTSA which might as well be disbanded now. It was always compromised by the automaker’s lobbyists. As best as I can tell, the IIHS forges ahead undeterred by automaker protests and embarrasses the carmakers into building safer cars.
2. I wonder what happens to a pitiful little Buick Encore when one of Mary Barra’s green monsters hits it. If this test simulates a 4,000 pound vehicle striking the side of another vehicle, imagine the damage inflicted by a 9,000 pound electrified Hummer. What’s worse, if history repeats, these grossly overweight monsters gm is building under the guise of environmental consciousness will be piloted by little women who lack the training and skill to drive such threatening vehicles. At least with heavy commercial vehicles a CDL is required and drivers are aware of the danger their vehicle poses to the public but I’m sure anybody will be able to move up from an Accord to a Hummer EV. They can then cruise around texting and putting on makeup behind the wheel blissfully unaware that when they can’t stop in time, 9,000 pounds will likely obliterate that Corolla up ahead. That is simply a dangerous situation and should not be allowed. I’d like to see a CDL requirement for these massive EVs that are coming.
Unreasonable tests. What was safe, last year is safe today. Unfounded concerns, like the weather man warning of “rain all day, stay indoors” .
So true. Who’s going to build a reasonably sized private passenger vehicle that’ll survive being T-boned by a 9,000 lb EV? Would the Hummer driver even feel it, or would they just keep merrily texting as they blow right through the carnage on to the next missed stoplight? If they backed over their own toddler or pet in the driveway would they even notice? The largest vehicle of the 1970s didn’t come anywhere near the road ravaging mass of the onslaught of new “green” EVs. As a society, we have reached maximum unctuousness and the Clown World descriptor couldn’t be more appropriate 🤡