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Tesla Model X Is First SUV to Achieve 5-Star Crash Rating in Every Category

182 points by gk1 9y ago

mpalmes 9y ago
This is a great result for Tesla and shows the benefits of an electric SUV. Though it would be interesting to see results from Euro NCAP and IIHS as well, as the Model X has yet to be tested by either.
nraynaud 9y ago
what about Euroncap ratings? It looks like the NHTSA only does occupant safety while the european system does pedestrian and safety for other cars.
- BinaryIdiot 9y ago
  > the european system does pedestrian and safety for other cars. I had no idea this difference existed. That's really interesting!
  - nraynaud 9y ago
    before briefly working at a car maker, I was completely oblivious too. But there we had those crazy discutions about hitting pedestrians without breaking their legs, and designing the hood to receive them with less injury, and bumper height that would be more or less the same for many cars. here is an extract from a euroncap test (Volvo S90->pedestrian->Comments): "The S90 has an 'active' bonnet. Sensors in the bumper detect when a pedestrian has been hit and actuators raise the bonnet to provide greater clearance to rigid structures in the engine bay. Volvo showed that the system deployed for a variety of pedestrian statures and over a broad range of speeds. Accordingly, the system was tested with the bonnet in the raised (deployed) position. Protection against head injury was almost entirely good. The protection provided by the bumper to pedestrians' legs was good for all test locations and maximum points were scored. However, protection of the pelvis was poor at nearly all test locations."
gavreh 9y ago
The vehicle in the image on the article does not look like an SUV, from a size perspective. Are there NTSB qualifications that designates something a "car" vs "SUV"?
- Retric 9y ago
  I think they call it a crossover, which is kind of a car / SUV hybrid. Model X is 198″ L x 82″ W x 66″ H. A BMW x5 looks more like an SUV and is 192″ L x 76″ W x 69″ H so the BMW x5 is -6"L, -10"W, +3"H. (Or consider the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G-Class which very much looks like an SUV, but is again only 184″ L x 71-72″ W x 76″ H. https://www.cars.com/research/mercedes_benz-g_class-2009/ https://www.cars.com/research/mercedes_benz-g_class-2009/) For comparison a BMW 3 series is 182"L x 71.3"W x 56.3"H So it's -16 inches L, -10 inches W, -10 inches height.
  - bkjelden 9y ago
    82" is very wide for a vehicle in the US. Even the Ford Excursion, one of the most gargantuan SUVs ever produced, was only 80" wide: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Excursion https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Excursion I imagine parking a Model X is a challenge.
    - beambot 9y ago
      Shouldn't it be able to park itself...?
      - chc 9y ago
        AFAIK that feature is just now about to be added in the next update. I don't know how well it works.
        DEinspanjer 9y ago
        No, they just added the ability to auto-park unattended in a perpendicular spot. From launch, it was able to park itself without an occupant by driving straight into a spot head or tail first. With the driver still sitting in the car, it can parallel park as well as perpendicular park. Those parking features work fine, but I am looking forward to the unattended perpendicular parking as it is the most common parking scenario.
jamesred 9y ago
I know Tesla likes to tout a best in class crash rating. It just isn't true for the Model S. The Model S gets a "A" for acceptable on the front small overlap test from the IIHS. The highest grade is a "G". http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/tesla/model-s-4-door-hatchback/2017 http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/tesla/model-s-4-d...
- giarc 9y ago
  Photo caption from your link. "The seat belt allowed far too much forward movement of the dummy to the extent that its head hit the steering wheel hard through the airbag." I imagine this could be tweaked in future builds and corrected?
- josefresco 9y ago
  For those interested, here's a list of the Top Safety Picks for 2017 (and older) http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List Didn't see Tesla on any of the lists for the current year, or past years.
- WhitneyLand 9y ago
  But how does that relate? Best in class is not necessarily highest possible. Also I have read the reliability of the X was a nightmare. Any progress on that with running changes?
  - jamesred 9y ago
    Numerous automobiles in "Luxury Cars" category have ratings higher than that of the Model S. This includes the following: BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Hyundai Genesis, Volvo S90, Acura RLX. The list of top safety picks of 2017 as rated by the IIHS is here: http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List
- greglindahl 9y ago
  The article (which I'm sure you read) is not about IIHS testing. It's about NHTSA testing. Also, I believe that Tesla planned on tweaking the car for this IIHS issue.
azhenley 9y ago
Was the Model X not tested and rated previously? It has been out for a while now. I assumed any vehicle in the US had to be rated by these safety agencies before it could be sold.
- btian 9y ago
  They have to buy the cars from open market like everybody else. If manufacturers provide cars, they'll reinforce everything lol
- mymmaster 9y ago
  Great question, I was under the same assumption.
AdamN 9y ago
NHTSA testing, unlike IIHS tests, doesn't test hitting a pedestrian as I understand. That should be part of the test.
- aag 9y ago
  They must have trouble recruiting volunteers.
cr0sh 9y ago
It's nice that Tesla makes an SUV, and it's nice that it has achieved this rating, but I'm also of the opinion that this vehicle is an SUV in name only. I'd love to someday own a capable off-road 4wd electric vehicle - but this one doesn't seem like it. Such a vehicle would have to be able to handle at least a moderate to mid-moderate vehicle rated (3 - 3.5) trail: http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/4WD_Trail_Rating#3._Moderate http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/4WD_Trail_Rating#3._Moderate This vehicle doesn't seem to have the ground clearance to do so; whether it could be safely modified (lifted) is questionable. While given enough time and money you can lift any vehicle, there are practical limits. Plus - in the case of an electric vehicle - you also have weight limits (to lift a vehicle you'll likely be adding longer springs, shocks, plus other components to allow for the increased wheel travel - that all adds up to more weight, meaning fewer miles per charge). There's also the question of underbody armor to prevent intrusion into the battery areas (similar to skid-plates for drive-train components in a regular off-road vehicle, you'll want to prevent damage to the batteries as well in an electric - which again means more weight). Will this kind of vehicle satisfy the crowd that wants to drive something big and (seemingly) capable, but isn't willing to own a minivan or station wagon - to ferry kids and groceries between parks, school, home, and mall? Sure. But it likely won't be safe to take it off-road on a 4-wheeling adventure trip (it'd probably be ok for most graded dirt roads, though - so for basic camping trips). I think I'm going to be waiting a while still for my hypothetical vehicle. Right now, the biggest limit (as always) is the batteries (unless you want to trailer it to the trail) - because of the weight vs range issue. What it may take is a complete rethinking and redesign of what an off-road vehicle means or needs. Probably more lightweight but strong composite components, or maybe something even more exotic - unless the battery technology improves (ie - if the stuff we've seen in labs becomes consumer-friendly and practical to manufacture). Hopefully, though, with those changes also comes ways for recovery in the event of broken parts on the trail (today if you break an axle or drive component, you at least have the possibility to repair it on-the-trail without necessarily needing to carry replacement parts, using a welder or other means - though some people -do- carry such components as well, which might become the norm for electric off-roading).
- cuu508 9y ago
  Also mud & water. If you drive through deep water with a conventional car, worst thing that can happen is you hydrolock the engine. Don't want to think what happens when you try to cross a shallow river in an electric...

182 points by gk1 9y ago

This is a great result for Tesla and shows the benefits of an electric SUV. Though it would be interesting to see results from Euro NCAP and IIHS as well, as the Model X has yet to be tested by either.

nraynaud 9y ago

what about Euroncap ratings? It looks like the NHTSA only does occupant safety while the european system does pedestrian and safety for other cars.

BinaryIdiot 9y ago
> the european system does pedestrian and safety for other cars. I had no idea this difference existed. That's really interesting!
- nraynaud 9y ago
  before briefly working at a car maker, I was completely oblivious too. But there we had those crazy discutions about hitting pedestrians without breaking their legs, and designing the hood to receive them with less injury, and bumper height that would be more or less the same for many cars. here is an extract from a euroncap test (Volvo S90->pedestrian->Comments): "The S90 has an 'active' bonnet. Sensors in the bumper detect when a pedestrian has been hit and actuators raise the bonnet to provide greater clearance to rigid structures in the engine bay. Volvo showed that the system deployed for a variety of pedestrian statures and over a broad range of speeds. Accordingly, the system was tested with the bonnet in the raised (deployed) position. Protection against head injury was almost entirely good. The protection provided by the bumper to pedestrians' legs was good for all test locations and maximum points were scored. However, protection of the pelvis was poor at nearly all test locations."

gavreh 9y ago

The vehicle in the image on the article does not look like an SUV, from a size perspective. Are there NTSB qualifications that designates something a "car" vs "SUV"?

Retric 9y ago
I think they call it a crossover, which is kind of a car / SUV hybrid. Model X is 198″ L x 82″ W x 66″ H. A BMW x5 looks more like an SUV and is 192″ L x 76″ W x 69″ H so the BMW x5 is -6"L, -10"W, +3"H. (Or consider the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G-Class which very much looks like an SUV, but is again only 184″ L x 71-72″ W x 76″ H. https://www.cars.com/research/mercedes_benz-g_class-2009/ https://www.cars.com/research/mercedes_benz-g_class-2009/) For comparison a BMW 3 series is 182"L x 71.3"W x 56.3"H So it's -16 inches L, -10 inches W, -10 inches height.
- bkjelden 9y ago
  82" is very wide for a vehicle in the US. Even the Ford Excursion, one of the most gargantuan SUVs ever produced, was only 80" wide: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Excursion https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Excursion I imagine parking a Model X is a challenge.
  - beambot 9y ago
    Shouldn't it be able to park itself...?
    - chc 9y ago
      AFAIK that feature is just now about to be added in the next update. I don't know how well it works.
      - DEinspanjer 9y ago
        No, they just added the ability to auto-park unattended in a perpendicular spot. From launch, it was able to park itself without an occupant by driving straight into a spot head or tail first. With the driver still sitting in the car, it can parallel park as well as perpendicular park. Those parking features work fine, but I am looking forward to the unattended perpendicular parking as it is the most common parking scenario.

jamesred 9y ago

I know Tesla likes to tout a best in class crash rating. It just isn't true for the Model S. The Model S gets a "A" for acceptable on the front small overlap test from the IIHS. The highest grade is a "G". http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/tesla/model-s-4-door-hatchback/2017 http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/tesla/model-s-4-d...

giarc 9y ago
Photo caption from your link. "The seat belt allowed far too much forward movement of the dummy to the extent that its head hit the steering wheel hard through the airbag." I imagine this could be tweaked in future builds and corrected?
josefresco 9y ago
For those interested, here's a list of the Top Safety Picks for 2017 (and older) http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List Didn't see Tesla on any of the lists for the current year, or past years.
WhitneyLand 9y ago
But how does that relate? Best in class is not necessarily highest possible. Also I have read the reliability of the X was a nightmare. Any progress on that with running changes?
- jamesred 9y ago
  Numerous automobiles in "Luxury Cars" category have ratings higher than that of the Model S. This includes the following: BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Hyundai Genesis, Volvo S90, Acura RLX. The list of top safety picks of 2017 as rated by the IIHS is here: http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List
greglindahl 9y ago
The article (which I'm sure you read) is not about IIHS testing. It's about NHTSA testing. Also, I believe that Tesla planned on tweaking the car for this IIHS issue.

azhenley 9y ago

Was the Model X not tested and rated previously? It has been out for a while now. I assumed any vehicle in the US had to be rated by these safety agencies before it could be sold.

btian 9y ago
They have to buy the cars from open market like everybody else. If manufacturers provide cars, they'll reinforce everything lol
mymmaster 9y ago
Great question, I was under the same assumption.

AdamN 9y ago

NHTSA testing, unlike IIHS tests, doesn't test hitting a pedestrian as I understand. That should be part of the test.

aag 9y ago
They must have trouble recruiting volunteers.

cr0sh 9y ago

It's nice that Tesla makes an SUV, and it's nice that it has achieved this rating, but I'm also of the opinion that this vehicle is an SUV in name only. I'd love to someday own a capable off-road 4wd electric vehicle - but this one doesn't seem like it. Such a vehicle would have to be able to handle at least a moderate to mid-moderate vehicle rated (3 - 3.5) trail: http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/4WD_Trail_Rating#3._Moderate http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/4WD_Trail_Rating#3._Moderate This vehicle doesn't seem to have the ground clearance to do so; whether it could be safely modified (lifted) is questionable. While given enough time and money you can lift any vehicle, there are practical limits. Plus - in the case of an electric vehicle - you also have weight limits (to lift a vehicle you'll likely be adding longer springs, shocks, plus other components to allow for the increased wheel travel - that all adds up to more weight, meaning fewer miles per charge). There's also the question of underbody armor to prevent intrusion into the battery areas (similar to skid-plates for drive-train components in a regular off-road vehicle, you'll want to prevent damage to the batteries as well in an electric - which again means more weight). Will this kind of vehicle satisfy the crowd that wants to drive something big and (seemingly) capable, but isn't willing to own a minivan or station wagon - to ferry kids and groceries between parks, school, home, and mall? Sure. But it likely won't be safe to take it off-road on a 4-wheeling adventure trip (it'd probably be ok for most graded dirt roads, though - so for basic camping trips). I think I'm going to be waiting a while still for my hypothetical vehicle. Right now, the biggest limit (as always) is the batteries (unless you want to trailer it to the trail) - because of the weight vs range issue. What it may take is a complete rethinking and redesign of what an off-road vehicle means or needs. Probably more lightweight but strong composite components, or maybe something even more exotic - unless the battery technology improves (ie - if the stuff we've seen in labs becomes consumer-friendly and practical to manufacture). Hopefully, though, with those changes also comes ways for recovery in the event of broken parts on the trail (today if you break an axle or drive component, you at least have the possibility to repair it on-the-trail without necessarily needing to carry replacement parts, using a welder or other means - though some people -do- carry such components as well, which might become the norm for electric off-roading).

cuu508 9y ago
Also mud & water. If you drive through deep water with a conventional car, worst thing that can happen is you hydrolock the engine. Don't want to think what happens when you try to cross a shallow river in an electric...