The Jeep Cherokee, a popular SUV, has undergone rigorous testing to ensure occupant safety. This report focuses on the side impact crash test performance of the Jeep Cherokee, specifically relevant to the 2017 model year, within the broader context of the 2014-2023 models. It’s important to note that while the 2019 model year saw a redesign, side crashworthiness remained consistent, allowing for combined analysis of tests.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted side impact tests on the Jeep Cherokee. Evaluations considered various critical aspects of crashworthiness, providing a comprehensive safety rating. The Jeep Cherokee achieved an overall “Good” rating in side impact testing. This “Good” rating extends to key structural elements and safety cage integrity, signifying robust construction designed to protect occupants in side collisions.
In detail, the structural performance and safety cage of the Jeep Cherokee were rated as “Good”. Furthermore, driver injury measures for the head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg areas were all assessed as “Good”. This consistent “Good” performance extends to driver head protection, indicating effective deployment and coverage of safety systems during a side impact.
The rear passenger safety in side impacts is equally crucial. The Jeep Cherokee also demonstrated “Good” ratings for rear passenger injury measures, specifically for the head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg regions. Rear passenger head protection was also rated “Good”, mirroring the excellent protection offered to the driver.
To provide a deeper understanding, technical measurements were recorded during these tests. Occupant compartment intrusion on the driver’s side was measured, showing consistent performance across different test IDs. Driver injury measures, including Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) scores, neck tension and compression, shoulder deflection and force, torso deflection, pelvis forces, and femur forces and moments, were meticulously recorded. Similarly, passenger injury measures were also comprehensively documented, mirroring the driver-side metrics. These detailed measurements underpin the “Good” ratings, illustrating the Jeep Cherokee’s ability to mitigate injury risks in side impact collisions.
In conclusion, the Jeep Cherokee, including the 2017 model, exhibits a high level of side crashworthiness, as evidenced by its “Good” rating from IIHS. Both driver and rear passengers benefit from comprehensive protection in side impact scenarios, thanks to robust structural design and effective safety systems. This analysis highlights the Jeep Cherokee as a safe choice in terms of side impact protection within the SUV market.
