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Do you know which auto brand isn’t exactly known for safety? Jeep. But the Jeep Wagoneer is actually safer for rear passengers compared to popular large SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition. Where do improvements need to be made? 

The Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition are two popular large SUVs that outsell the competition. However, maybe you should consider the Jeep Wagoneer instead because it’s the only big option that didn’t falter during a crucial Insurance Institute Highway Safety (IIHS) test. 

While the Tahoe and Expedition sell more models than the Wagoneer, at least the Wagoneer can brag about being the only model in its class to earn a Top Safety Pick award. 

However, none of these SUVs were able to adequately protect rear passengers, aka where your children sit, which is why the Wagoneer didn’t get a Top Safety Pick+ award.

During the small overlap test, the Wagoneer provided helpful survival space for the driver and front passenger, but the Tahoe only provided an adequate amount of space, and the Expedition received a marginal rating because the steering column became detached. 

The 2024 Jeep Wagoneer pulling a trailer
2024 Jeep Wagoneer | Jeep

During the side tests, the Wagoneer provided safety as the front and side airbags deployed to protect the crash dummies’ heads from hitting hard structures. 

The Tahoe failed to protect the right-side passenger from foot injuries and the left-side passenger from leg injuries. The Expedition failed to protect the legs of the passengers on the right and left side. Also, the side curtain airbag didn’t deploy. 

Each SUV was docked for having a high risk of chest injuries for the rear passenger due to high seatbelt forces. 

Things are worse for rear passengers in the Tahoe because the dummy showed a high risk for head, neck, and chest injuries, Plus, the lap belt slid on the passenger’s abdomen, increasing the risk of abdominal injuries. 

The Wagoneer and Expedition both performed well in avoiding collisions with pedestrians, but the Tahoe failed to stop before hitting a pedestrian or dummy at night. 

So instead of going for the Expedition and Tahoe because they’re the two most popular large SUVs, consider the Wagoneer if safety is a top priority.

NOTE: The 2023 and 2024 Expedition and Tahoe meet or exceed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) regulatory requirements. The Expedition is the only vehicle in the segment to achieve a five-star overall vehicle score in NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.