The Jeep Wrangler, an iconic off-road vehicle, underwent a significant redesign starting in 2018. This refresh aimed to modernize the Wrangler while retaining its legendary capability. For those considering a 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport, understanding its safety performance is crucial. This article delves into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test results for the redesigned Jeep Wrangler, providing a comprehensive overview of its safety strengths and weaknesses.
The IIHS conducted rigorous small overlap frontal crash tests on the Jeep Wrangler to evaluate its structural integrity and occupant protection. It’s important to note that these ratings primarily apply to the redesigned models from 2018 onwards, including the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport.
However, during the driver-side small overlap frontal tests conducted by both the IIHS and Fiat Chrysler, an unexpected outcome occurred: the Jeep Wrangler tipped onto its passenger side. This partial rollover during a frontal crash presents a heightened risk of injury beyond the standard measurements of these tests. The IIHS considers a vehicle tipping over in a frontal crash as an unacceptable result, which led to a downgrade in the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport‘s overall safety rating.
Action shot from the IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal crash test of a 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport, showing the vehicle tilting onto its side, indicating a potential rollover risk.
Despite the rollover issue, the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport demonstrated strong performance in several key areas of the crash test. Let’s examine the detailed ratings:
Key Evaluation Metrics and Ratings for the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side | Marginal |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/thigh | Good |
| Lower leg/foot | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
As the table shows, the structural integrity and safety cage of the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport received a “Good” rating, the highest possible. This indicates that the Wrangler’s fundamental structure is robust and capable of withstanding significant crash forces. Furthermore, in terms of driver injury measures, the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport also earned “Good” ratings across all categories: head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. This signifies a low risk of serious injuries to these body regions in a similar crash scenario. The driver restraints and dummy kinematics were also rated as “Good”, suggesting that the seatbelts and airbags effectively controlled the dummy’s movement during the crash, contributing to occupant protection.
Post-crash test view of the dummy inside the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport, showing the maintained survival space and effective restraint system performance.
The concern, however, stems from the “Marginal” overall rating for the driver-side small overlap test. This downgrade is directly attributed to the partial rollover observed in the tests. While the structural cage held up well and injury measures were positive, the rollover introduces an additional layer of danger not typically assessed in standard frontal crash tests.
Deployment of airbags in the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport during the IIHS small overlap crash test, illustrating airbag functionality despite the rollover incident.
The IIHS noted that the side airbags, while deployed, did not offer sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from potential contact with side structures or external objects during the rollover. Notably, the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport lacks side curtain airbags, which are designed to provide enhanced head protection in side-impact and rollover scenarios.
Driver’s side space within the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport after the crash test, demonstrating good maintenance of occupant space and low risk of leg and foot injuries.
Despite the rollover and the “Marginal” overall rating, the technical measurements from the crash tests provide further insights. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion were generally low across multiple tests, indicating that the passenger compartment remained largely intact.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion Measurements (cm):
| Measurement | CEN2001 | CEN1909 | VTN1913 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| Footrest | 10 | 9 | 18 |
| Left toepan | 8 | 8 | 15 |
| Brake pedal | 9 | 10 | 14 |
| Rocker panel lateral average | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering column | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Upper hinge pillar max | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Upper dash | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Lower instrument panel | 4 | 4 | 7 |
Driver Injury Measures:
| Measurement | CEN2001 | CEN1909 | VTN1913 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIC-15 | 101 | 80 | 182 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 23 | 20 | 37 |
| Left Femur (kN) | 0.5 | 0.4 | 2.8 |
| Left Tibia axial force (kN) | 2.1 | 1.7 | 6.6 |
| Left Foot acceleration (g) | 72 | 102 | 158 |
These technical data points reinforce the “Good” ratings for structural integrity and driver injury measures. However, it is crucial to consider the “Marginal” overall rating due to the rollover risk when evaluating the safety of the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport.
Illustration highlighting the partial rollover of the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport during the small overlap crash test, emphasizing the added injury risk beyond standard crash test criteria.
Conclusion:
The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport presents a mixed safety profile based on IIHS testing. While it demonstrates robust structural performance and good occupant protection in many aspects of a frontal crash, the partial rollover in the small overlap test is a significant concern. Potential buyers should be aware of this “Marginal” rating and the associated rollover risk, especially when considering the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport for everyday driving and passenger safety. While the vehicle performs well in many crashworthiness categories, the rollover outcome is an important factor to consider when making a purchasing decision.
