Confused about safety scores on SUV's

[kalishea]

I am exploring the possibilty of getting a different vehicle. Currently I have a 2009 Nissan Murano, which I love, but would like something a tad bigger and with an opitional third row.
I have been trying to research safety and am getting confused. Maybe someone can help me understand a little better.
An example I have:
IIHS rates the Kia Sorento as a top safety pick but on informedforlife.org, it rates as a Medium Risk. What?

These are the vehicles I am interested in. I want to achieve better safety scores then my Murano and something bigger:
Kia Sorento
Toyota Highlander
Honda Pilot
GMC Acadia

Any suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[Guest]

I haven't looked at those particular vehicle scores, but you have to understand how to read between the lines.

IIHS is only one organization.

Informed for Life is good because its scores combine all the major safety orgs into one overall score. They'll also show the breakdown.

What you have to watch out for when considering an Informed for Life score is that if there is no data, they plug in an Average score. If a vehicle has otherwise great scores, that Average rating will lower their IFL overall rating. If it has generally low scores, the Avg rating will make their overall IFL rating better than it actually is.

I don't like how IFL makes up a score, but it is what it is and they disclose it. I think the disclosure is too hidden and they should make the fact that it's a fake score more prominent, but that's what they've decided to do.

 

[SafeDad]

Also, keep in mind that the NHTSA has a new crash testing system for 2011. If you buy a new vehicle that has not been tested, it may not do as well in the new testing as it did in the previous system.