However, safety is a paramount concern. Regardless of a car’s aesthetics or the user-friendliness of its infotainment system, recommending it becomes challenging when it lacks essential safety features. Organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) play a pivotal role in evaluating vehicle performance through meticulously designed crash tests across different vehicle classes.
For the year 2023, IIHS subjected a selection of midsize sedans and one car-based SUV to an enhanced and more rigorous iteration of its moderate overlap front crash test, with a specific focus on rear seat protection. This upgraded test incorporates a dummy placed in the back seat behind the driver, simulating the size of either a small woman or a 12-year-old child, while the dummy in the driver’s seat replicates an average-sized adult man.
IIHS implemented these changes following research that indicated a higher risk of fatal injuries for rear-seat passengers in newer vehicles compared to those in the front. This isn’t due to rear seats becoming less safe but rather stems from enhanced safety measures in front seats, including improved airbags and seatbelts, which are generally absent in the rear. Nevertheless, IIHS emphasizes that rear seats remain the safest choice for young children, as they could be harmed by rapidly deploying airbags.
So, how did the six vehicles perform in this updated test? Generally, the results were less than impressive. However, some vehicles outperformed others, with one particular standout. Let’s delve into the results and also see where each vehicle stands on the MotorTrend Ultimate Car Rankings. As a reminder, IIHS categorizes vehicles as ‘good,’ ‘acceptable,’ ‘marginal,’ or ‘poor’ in their individual assessments.
2023 Volkswagen Jetta: “Poor” IIHS Rating
It’s crucial to note that this particular IIHS test primarily focused on the safety of small rear seat passengers, and unfortunately, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta did not fare well. IIHS found that the rear passenger’s head came dangerously close to the front seatback, and additional measurements taken from the rear-seated dummy indicated potential head, neck, chest injuries, and excessive belt forces. In other IIHS evaluations, the identical 2022 Jetta received “good” scores in crashworthiness categories but did not perform well in evaluations of its headlights, seatbelt reminders, or child seat tether anchors.
2023 Volkswagen Jetta: Pros and Cons
In the compact sedan category of MotorTrend, the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta ranks at the bottom. Nevertheless, it offers an impressive array of standard features, including a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, an 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster, and automatic LED headlights. However, criticisms arise from its relatively low-quality plastic interior and overall lack of distinctive character. Furthermore, it falls short in driving experience when compared to the more affordable Honda Civic.
2023 Kia K5: “Poor” IIHS Rating
One of the primary safety concerns for rear-seat passengers is a phenomenon known as “submarining.” This occurs when a rear-seat passenger slides beneath the lap belt, causing it to rise to the abdomen, thereby increasing the risk of internal injuries. This is a significant reason why the 2023 Kia K5 sedan received a “poor” rating in the moderate overlap front crash test. In the K5, the rear shoulder belt also shifted from the shoulder to the neck of the dummy, a highly undesirable outcome for obvious reasons.
It’s worth noting that the 2023 Kia K5 holds the distinction of being a 2022 Top Safety Pick.”
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