2 Buick models are among the 5 deadliest SUVs in America
Unless you’re a silly car enthusiast (you know who you are), you likely care about safety when shopping for new cars, trucks, and SUVs. That’s why you get a warm and fuzzy when you see a five-star NHTSA safety rating or IIHS Top Safety Pick+ attached to your intended ride. However, a recent fatal accident study has other news. And for Buick fans, it means two of the brand’s SUVs are among the deadliest SUVs in America.
An iSeeCars fatal accident rate study puts two Buick models in the top five deadliest SUVs in the country
A recent study named some of the country’s deadliest cars, trucks, and SUVs and how they stack up against segment averages. Some figures were surprising, like the Ford Mustang’s absence from the list. Others not so much. Still, if you’re a Buick fan, you might want to find your happy place. Two of the brand’s models made the list of the top five deadliest SUVs in America.
| SUV make and model | Fatal accident rate |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Venue | 13.9 |
| Honda CR-V Hybrid | 13.2 |
| Tesla Model Y | 10.6 |
| Buick Encore GX | 9.8 |
| Buick Envision | 8.0 |
| SUV segment average | 2.2 |
The culprits are the Buick Encore GX and the Buick Envision. Both SUVs are still in production as part of Buick’s four-model lineup. Still, despite earning a five-star safety rating, the Encore GX is the fourth deadliest SUV in the country. The news isn’t much better for the Envision. It has a fatal accident rate of 8.0 per billion vehicle miles, nearly four times the segment average.
Now, I’m not saying the Buick SUV in your driveway is hell-bent on killing you. These two models may have a fatality rate much higher than the segment average. However, your behavior behind the wheel is much more important to your ability to stay alive on dangerous roads.
According to iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer, “The biggest contributor to occupant safety is avoiding a crash, and the biggest factor in crash avoidance is driver behavior. A focused, alert driver, traveling at a legal or prudent speed, without being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is the most likely to arrive safely regardless of the vehicle they’re driving.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean the type of vehicle you drive is of no consequence. “The popularity of SUVs has them dominating today’s roadways,” said Brauer. “That’s fine if you’re in an SUV, but if you’re in a smaller or lower vehicle you’re likely at a disadvantage if you tangle with one.” Mass really does play a role in the survivability of a crash.
