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In its latest ratings, the IIHS found that only the Nissan Kicks earned a Good score in the updated moderate overlap front test among the tested crossovers. A rear-seat-belt change lifted the Kicks from Poor to Good; the Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer received Poor ratings, while the Toyota RAV4 scored Acceptable as a hybrid and Marginal as a plug-in hybrid.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released ratings from updated crash tests of four crossovers, and only the Nissan Kicks earned a Good score in the revised moderate overlap front test. The results show that a rear-seat-belt change improved the Kicks’ performance, while the Audi Q3 and Chevrolet Trailblazer received Poor ratings and the Toyota RAV4 scored Acceptable or Marginal, depending on powertrain.
The IIHS test simulates a vehicle striking a barrier at 40 mph, with only part of the vehicle’s front end making contact. The institute revised the test in 2022 to better assess protection for people riding in the rear seat. A Good rating in this test is required for an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.
The Kicks initially received a Poor rating in the test. According to the source report, Nissan changed the rear seat belts on vehicles built after June 2026, including 2026 and 2027 models. When the updated vehicle was retested, it earned a Good rating and qualified for a 2026 Top Safety Pick, one level below Top Safety Pick+.
The redesigned 2026 Audi Q3 received Poor in the moderate overlap test, as did the Trailblazer. The redesigned 2026 Toyota RAV4 received Acceptable with its standard hybrid powertrain and Marginal as a plug-in hybrid. The Q3 had Good ratings in its other reported categories but could not earn a Top Safety Pick award without a Good moderate overlap score. The Trailblazer also had low ratings in other areas, including headlights and front crash-prevention technology.
Rear-Seat Protection Shapes Awards
The results matter to shoppers because the test examines rear-seat safety, an area the IIHS says its 2022 revision was designed to assess more closely. A strong result in other crash or safety categories does not offset a weak score in this test when it comes to qualifying for a Top Safety Pick award.
The Kicks’ retest also shows that a model’s rating can change after a manufacturer makes a specific safety update. For buyers, that makes the vehicle’s build date and model year relevant: the reported improvement applies to Kicks built after June 2026, not necessarily to earlier examples of the same generation. The RAV4’s differing scores also show why ratings should be checked for the exact powertrain being considered.
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How the Revised Test Changed Ratings
The IIHS is an insurance-industry-backed nonprofit that conducts vehicle safety tests and awards its own designations. Its ratings are separate from federal crash-test ratings issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The IIHS can update its testing procedures without waiting for Congress to change federal standards, so its criteria can shift as it adds or revises assessments.
The moderate overlap test was updated in 2022 to address rear-occupant protection. In the results described in the report, the Kicks moved from Poor in its earlier test to Good after Nissan changed its rear seat belts. The newer Q3 and RAV4 designs, by contrast, did not reach Good in that category. The awards at issue here are IIHS recognitions, not federal safety ratings.
“A “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front test is a requirement for a Top Safety Pick award.”
— IIHS, as described in The Drive report
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Which Vehicles the Ratings Cover
The supplied report does not give the exact test dates, detailed injury measurements, or full rating breakdowns for every crossover. It says the Q3 result also applies to 2027 models and that Kicks built after June 2026 include the seat-belt change, but it does not provide a complete list of affected vehicle identification numbers or production dates.
The results also do not establish how each vehicle would perform in every real-world crash. They concern the IIHS’s specific test procedure and rating criteria. The report does not say whether Audi, Chevrolet, or Toyota has announced changes in response to these scores.
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Automakers’ Response Remains Open
Nissan’s revised rear seat belts have already been evaluated in a retest, according to the report. The next point for shoppers is to check the IIHS rating for the exact model year, trim, and powertrain they are considering, and to confirm whether a Kicks was built after the reported production change.
The report does not identify planned retests or announced fixes for the Q3, Trailblazer, or RAV4. Any future IIHS ratings or manufacturer changes could alter how those models qualify for awards, but no timing for such updates is provided in the source material.
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Key Questions
Which crossover earned a Good rating in the updated test?
The Nissan Kicks earned a Good rating in the IIHS moderate overlap front test after Nissan changed the rear seat belts on vehicles built after June 2026, according to the report.
What did the IIHS test measure?
The test simulates a vehicle hitting a barrier at 40 mph with only part of its front end making contact. The IIHS revised it in 2022 to better account for rear-seat occupant safety.
How did the Toyota RAV4 score?
The standard hybrid RAV4 received an Acceptable rating in the moderate overlap test. The plug-in hybrid version received a Marginal rating.
Why did the Audi Q3 miss a Top Safety Pick award?
The Q3 received Poor in the moderate overlap front test. The report says a Good rating in that test is required for a Top Safety Pick award, even though the Q3 scored Good in its other reported categories.
Did the report say the other automakers will make changes?
No. The source material does not report announced fixes or retests for the Audi Q3, Chevrolet Trailblazer, or Toyota RAV4, and it gives no schedule for possible updates.
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