IIHS launches roof strength rating system

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is launching a new roof strength rating system to determine the level of protection offered by a vehicle’s roof in rollover crashes.
The new rating system is based on IIHS research showing that occupants in rollover crashes benefit from stronger roofs, an IIHS release says.
Vehicles that are rated good must have roofs that are more than twice as strong as minimum federal safety standards requires.
Twelve small SUVs were the first to be put to the test.
The Volkswagen Tiguan has the strongest rated roof, with the Subaru Forester, Honda Element and Jeep Patriot also earning good ratings.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota Rav4, Nissan Rogue and Mitsubishi Outlander are rated acceptable.
Roofs on the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape are marginal and the Kia Sportage’s roof is poor, the IIHS reports.
Not only will a stronger roof be less likely to deform and crush, injuring occupants through contact with the roof itself during a rollover, but a strong roof will also reduce the risk of passengers being ejected through windshields, windows or doors that have broken open or opened because the roof has deformed, the Institute says.
About 25% of occupant deaths in crashes of cars and minivans involve rolling over. For SUVs, this portion jumps to 59%, the IIHS notes.