HUMMER H3 Still a Safe Bet

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released the results of their SUV crash tests earlier today, and although HUMMER is known for their tough construction and strong safety record, the IIHS gave the HUMMER H3 a less than favorable crash rating.

The HUMMER H3 was among the majority of SUV’s that did not pass the IIHS’s strict whiplash test. “Whiplash usually isn’t life-threatening, but it can be debilitating and difficult to recover from,” says the IIHS. General Motors says they design the head restraints of all their vehicles, including the HUMMER H3, to meet a variety of driver sizes rather than focusing on a single set of metrics like those used in the IIHS test.

More surprising is the institute’s rating in a frontal crash rating for the HUMMER H3. Keep in mind, the H3 scored the highest rating of 5 stars from the Government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The IIHS rated the H3 as acceptable in front crash ratings. “Acceptable isn’t a bad rating,” says the IIHS, “It’s just not the best protection that’s available.” High forces on the dummy’s lower right leg indicated an injury would be likely, but “forces on the dummy’s head and chest were low, and the vehicle’s structure held up well.”

We hear stories all the time of HUMMER owners walking away from unbelievable crashes without a scratch. In fact, we reported on some real world results not too long ago, when an H3 was crushed between a semi trailer and a cement truck. The IIHS test may have been accurate with the lower leg injury, since the individual in this case suffered a broken leg. However that was the only injury they suffered, and considering the incredible pictures from the crash, that’s amazing.

If your family gets squashed between two huge vehicles, would you rather be in their top pick of a Nissan Murano, or a HUMMER? According to the IIHS, you may have a broken leg and whiplash in a HUMMER; according to our real-world results, it’s a safe bet you’ll also be alive.