No one wants to hear that the SUV they just bought isn’t as safe as they thought it was. Unfortunately, if you own the 2022 Honda HR-V or the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, that just might have happened to you. That’s because the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just updated its side crash test, leaving some SUVs in a worse safety standing than before. Here’s why the 2022 Honda HR-V and 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross safety ratings leave a little something to be desired.

The 2022 Honda HR-V new safety rating is poor

The IIHS tested the 2022 HR-V and its new side crash test score is poor, despite the original side crash test having a good result. That’s because the side crash testing has changed to simulate a collision at a higher speed: 37 mph vs the previous 31 mph. The barrier used in testing is also heavier, and more like vehicles on the road now, as heavier SUVs and trucks dominate. The barrier in the original test weighed 3,300 pounds, while the current barrier weights 4,200 pounds.

The 2022 Honda HR-V’s updated side crash overall rating is poor and its structure and safety cage rating is also poor. The driver’s pelvis scored just marginally in tests, as did the rear passenger’s. The torso for both those categories was acceptable, but not good.

The HR-V otherwise has pretty good crash test ratings from the IIHS – though the headlights and seat belt reminders also have less-than-stellar ratings. Still, these updated side test ratings reflect a serious danger to occupants of the 2022 Honda HR-V, and they shouldn’t be taken lightly.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross safety ratings aren’t great either

Like the 2022 Honda HR-V, the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross updated side crash test ratings are poor. It does fare slightly better than the HR-V, in that while overall rating is poor, the structure and safety cage rating is marginal. In the driver injury measures category, the torso receives a poor score while the pelvis gets a marginal rating. In the rear passenger category, only the torso has a less-than-good score, with a marginal rating.

Also, like the HR-V, the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has otherwise mostly good safety ratings. However, its headlights have a poor rating, as does its seat belt reminders. You can check out the full ratings on the IIHS website.

Of the 20 SUVs tested, only 1 got a good score

Astonishingly, only one SUV out of the 20 that the IIHS tested scored a good rating in the new side crash test. That’s the 2022 Mazda CX-5. And while there are still many SUVs that have to be tested, the results so far aren’t promising. That’s somewhat surprising, considering that automakers knew these test changes were coming. In fact, the IIHS made it known in 2018 that these updates were coming.

However, the “official protocols” weren’t published until 2020, according to Consumer Reports. IIHS spokesman Joe Young thinks that there’s more to be done. “Given the range of performance, it seems that some automakers did plan ahead with vehicle improvements while others need some time to catch up,” 

By 2023, any SUV with an IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award will need a good score on the updated side crash test. Hopefully by then, many more SUVs will have better ratings, keeping drivers and passengers safer on the roads.