They're bigger, but not necessarily tougher. That's what the point the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is trying to make with its latest round of crash 'em ups.
You can't say that any of the vehicles"aced" the test with each model showing a weakness in one area or another. The IIHS started pushing active head restraints only in the past few years, so many vehicles aren't receiving the "Green G" (good) for rear crash protection.
The other observation that the IIHS made was that the Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Trailblazer did not come with torso airbags but rather only side curtain airbags. The IIHS believes it's important to have both to adequately protect occupants. The Pathfinder and Xterra models that were not equipped with optional side airbags also received an "Orange M" (marginal) for side impact (they received "Good" ratings with the optional side bags in place) and the Ford Explorer received a slightly higher "Yellow A" (yellow).
One positive note, I think, is that stability control is standard on each of the models. It's a very important safety feature!
Say what you will about the IIHS, they have made a difference in automotive safety. I find it hard to fault anyone who strives to better protect passengers in a crash. You can click on the picture above to enlarge it.
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