It’s no secret that everyone hopes the new or used truck Chicago that they purchase is safe.  You trust that it’s been tested and that the results are accurate.  This is where the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety comes into play.  The IIHS, as it’s commonly referred to, is a non-for profit organization that gets it’s funding from insurance companies.  It tests vehicles for all kinds of things and rates them based on the results they find.

One of the most recent tests to be added to IIHS’ roster is the roof strenght test.  It was introduced in March 2009 and it’s a very good test to be done.  The four ratings that the institute assigns for this and all other tests performed are Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor.  I certainly don’t want to cruise around in a Chicago Suburban used car that has any poor ratings associated with it!

One Chevy model on the market that received a Good rating for the roof test is the 2010 Equinox.  I am glad to hear this, as an Equinox is a model I am considering when I trade in my current coupe that’s getting up there in miles!  The roof strength test was done on the Equinox in the following manner.  A metal plate was pushed down in the one of the roof’s corners.  The rating is then based on how much force the roof can take before the edge goes down 5 inches.

Vehicles that can take four times its curb weight get a Good rating, as in the case of the Equinox.  If a vehicle can take 3.25 times, it gets acceptable, 2.5 times is marginal, and any amount less than that gets poor.  This is very important to know in case of a rollover accident or if something comes crashing down on your SUV while riding or driving in it!

Keep in mind that any used truck Chicago that was manufactured before this test went into effect will not have roof strength test scores associated with it simply because the roof test wasn’t done on those models.  However, it will serve as a good basis for future models’ design and development.  Kudos to the 2010 Equinox for its strong body and high test score!