Nissan SUVs Earn 2024 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK Ratings

Nissan of Rochester is proud to tell you that both the Pathfinder and Ariya models have earned TOP SAFETY PICK designations from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). Both models earned top ratings in impact and other safety evaluations.

Pathfinder Top Safety Pick +

It is a celebration of the old and new. The Pathfinder was Nissan’s first SUV and dates back to the 1987 model year. At the time, it truly looked like a hardbody pickup with a wagon body. The model has come a long way since then. Now in its fifth generation, what once was a model with just a single door on each side now has standard seating for eight, V-6 power, and unibody construction. 

The details of that unibody construction are key in the Pathfinder’s IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation for vehicles built after November 2023, which is the highest rating IIHS has. To achieve the 2024 TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating, the Pathfinder scored a “Good” rating (their highest) in the following crashworthiness impact tests:

• Small Overlap Front
• Original moderate overlap front test
• Updated moderate overlap front test
• Updated side test

Several sub-evaluations go into the overall score for each test, including injury evaluations for:

• Head/neck
• Chest
• Hip/thigh
• Lower leg/foot

The small overlap front evaluation is tested on both the driver and passenger sides of the front of the vehicle. If the results of the two assessments differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating. All tests look at the driver and front passenger positions. The updated front overlap and side tests also look at crash test dummies in the rear seats. Each test also examines the safety cage’s structure and integrity and the test dummie’s interaction with the restraint systems.

In addition to the impact tests, each vehicle is rated on the quality of the headlight beam, where the Pathfinder scored “Acceptable,” and the effectiveness of the automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection systems, which are part of the Nissan Safety Shield 360 system. Another evaluation is on the ease of use in properly mounting child restraint systems where the Pathfinder scored “Good” on both counts.

The IIHS designation adds to Pathfinder’s long safety resume, which also includes an overall 5-Star Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Ariya is a TOP SAFETY PICK

From Nissan’s oldest SUV to the newest, the Ariya Crossover EV received a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from IIHS. It also received a “Good” rating on the small overlap front, original moderate overlap front, and updated side test. Like the Pathfinder, it received an “Acceptable” rating for the headlight beams and a “Good” rating on both the standard and optional crash prevention systems. 

The 2WD Ariya also earned an overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA NCAP tests. The 4WD model does not yet have an overall rating but has scored five stars on the tests it has been in, including the side impact and rollover tests.

It is good to know that these are not only great SUVs to drive but have been shown to be protective in impacts and raise the odds of avoiding them in the first place. If you want a spacious, well-performing SUV, both models are worth checking out at Nissan of Rochester.