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The IIHS tested four crossover models under its updated moderate overlap front crash test. The Nissan Kicks earned a Good rating after rear seat-belt changes, while the Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer were rated Poor; the Toyota RAV4 received Acceptable or Marginal ratings depending on powertrain. Only the Kicks qualified for a 2026 Top Safety Pick award among the tested vehicles.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released results from its updated moderate overlap front crash test for four crossovers, with the Nissan Kicks the only model to earn a Good rating in the test. The result helped the Kicks qualify for a 2026 Top Safety Pick; the Audi Q3, Toyota RAV4 and Chevrolet Trailblazer did not earn an award.
The test evaluates how a vehicle performs in a 40-mph frontal crash in which only part of the front end strikes a barrier. The IIHS updated the test in 2022 to put greater emphasis on protecting people in the rear seat. Under the institute’s award criteria, a Good result in this test is required for a Top Safety Pick.
The Kicks initially received a Poor rating, but the IIHS awarded a Good rating after Nissan changed rear seat belts on vehicles built after June 2026, including specified 2026 and 2027 models. The Kicks received a Top Safety Pick, one level below Top Safety Pick+, according to the report.
The redesigned 2026 Audi Q3 was rated Poor in the test, as was the Chevrolet Trailblazer. The 2026 Toyota RAV4 earned an Acceptable rating in its standard hybrid configuration and a Marginal rating as a plug-in hybrid. The Q3 received Good ratings in its other evaluated categories, but its moderate overlap result prevented it from qualifying for an award. The Trailblazer also had low ratings in areas including headlights and front crash-prevention technology.
Rear-Seat Protection Shapes Awards
The results show how a change in testing criteria can affect both safety ratings and award eligibility. The IIHS added greater attention to rear-seat occupant protection in its updated test, and a model’s performance in that one category can determine whether it qualifies for a Top Safety Pick, even if it performs well elsewhere.
For shoppers comparing crossovers, the ratings offer model-specific information about protection in a particular crash scenario. They also show that ratings can differ between versions of the same vehicle: the RAV4 hybrid and plug-in hybrid received different scores. The IIHS results are one source of safety information and do not establish how a vehicle will perform in every crash.
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The IIHS Test Changed in 2022
The IIHS is a nonprofit supported by the insurance industry that conducts vehicle-safety research and crash tests. Its tests and award criteria can change as the organization revises how it evaluates protection. The source report contrasts this approach with federal crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, whose standards and resources operate under different constraints.
The current moderate overlap front test was revised in 2022 to better assess rear-occupant safety. The Kicks’ initial Poor result and later Good rating followed by a change to its rear seat belts, illustrating how manufacturers may respond to test findings. The source report does not provide detailed measurements of the belt changes or describe the full test results for every vehicle category.
“The Nissan Kicks earned a “Good” rating in the updated moderate overlap front test after rear seat-belt changes.”
— The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as reported by The Drive
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Repair Details and Future Ratings
The available report does not specify the technical details of Nissan’s rear seat-belt changes, how many vehicles were retested, or whether the revised belts are available as a retrofit for Kicks already on the road. It also does not give a timeline for any further testing or changes from Audi, Toyota or Chevrolet.
The ratings described here concern the IIHS’s stated test categories and vehicle versions. The source material does not establish that every configuration or production change will receive the same rating, or predict how the manufacturers’ models will perform in real-world crashes.
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Manufacturers’ Next Safety Steps
The next developments to watch are whether Audi, Toyota and Chevrolet make changes that improve performance in the moderate overlap front test, and whether the IIHS tests revised vehicles. Any updated results could affect future award eligibility. Nissan’s rating applies to the vehicles identified in the report as built after June 2026; buyers should check the specific model year and production details rather than assume the revised rating applies to every Kicks.
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Key Questions
Which crossover earned a Good rating in the updated test?
The Nissan Kicks earned a Good rating after rear seat-belt changes on vehicles built after June 2026.
What happened to the Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Both received Poor ratings in the updated moderate overlap front crash test. The Q3’s result prevented it from earning an IIHS award despite Good ratings in its other reported categories.
Did the Toyota RAV4 pass the test?
The IIHS rating varied by powertrain: the standard hybrid RAV4 received Acceptable, while the plug-in hybrid received Marginal.
Why did the IIHS change this crash test?
The IIHS revised the moderate overlap front test in 2022 to better account for rear-seat occupant safety. The test involves a vehicle hitting a barrier at 40 mph with only part of its front end making contact.
Does the Kicks rating apply to every model year?
The report says the Good result applies to Kicks built after June 2026, including specified 2026 and 2027 models. It does not say whether the seat-belt changes can be installed on earlier vehicles.
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