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10 of 18 midsize SUVs earn 'good' IIHS side impact safety rating

It's not terribly surprising that midsize SUVs earned better safety ratings than small SUVs in the latest side-impact tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Just how much better they scored, on the other hand, certainly raises an eyebrow. Ten out of 18 midsize SUVs earned the highest rating of 'good' in the stringent new test, altered for vehicles starting with the 2020 model year with a heavier barrier (4,200 pounds) that moves at a higher speed (37 miles per hour) and is fitted with a hard honeycomb frontal structure. By way of contrast, just one out of of 20 small SUVs earned a 'good' score.  SUVs that receiving 'good' scores were the Ford Explorer, Infiniti QX60, Lincoln Aviator, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Volkswagen Atlas, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and Volkswagen ID.4. For EV fans, it's worth noting the ID.4 was the only electric vehicle included in the test. The Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse scraped away with 'acceptable' ratings while the Honda Passport, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Wrangler 4-door, Kia Telluride and Nissan Murano were deemed merely 'marginal' in the tough new test. Only two models — the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen ID.4 — earned a "Good" rating in every test category.  Interestingly, the Jeep Wrangler would have scored a 'good' rating if it were equipped with side airbags for the rear seating positions. It would likely be an engineering challenge to equip its removable top and/or doors with airbags, but the lack of that safety feature allowed the head of the rear passenger dummy to hit the vertical support of the top. Otherwise, the Wrangler scored good ratings across the board. The new Ford Bronco, which makes more allowances for side-impact safety, has not yet been tested.  The popular Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride SUVs stand out in the test with 'poor' ratings for driver pelvis injuries. The Nissan Murano, a vehicle last redesigned for the 2015 model year, was the only vehicle tested that received a 'poor' rating for its structure and safety cage. Videos of the tests of 12 of these 18 SUVs can be found on the IIHS' YouTube page. Related video: Green Buick Chevrolet Ford Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jeep Kia Mazda Nissan Subaru Toyota Volkswagen Safety Crossover SUV IIHS Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

2021 Infiniti QX80 gets simultaneously more and less expensive

Infiniti has released pricing for the 2021 QX80, and the brand's range-topping SUV sails into the new model year with revisions to its trim lineup and minor equipment changes. The starting price of the QX80 rises, but the asking price for the fanciest version is lower for 2021. The entry-level QX80 is again the Luxe, and in rear-wheel-drive form, it starts at $70,445 (with $1,395 destination) or $73,545 with all-wheel drive. Both figures represent an increase of $2,300 over 2020. A new middle-level trim is the Premium Select, and it steps in for last year's Edition 30 model, featuring that version's dark-chrome exterior accents and 22-inch wheels. Prices for the QX80 Premium Select are $74,745 (RWD) and $77,845 (AWD), which are $3,100 more than last year. For those with a hankering for the very finest of QX80s, however, the news is better. In place of last year's Limited, the new range-topper is the Sensory, which includes Infiniti's Hydraulic Body Motion Control System. The Sensory is $81,595 with rear-wheel drive and $84,695 with AWD. And while that's not cheap, it's some $8,000 less than what Infiniti was asking for the 2020 Limited. The big tech news for 2021 is the Infiniti's rear camera mirror has higher resolution and a larger viewing surface. Previously standard on the top trim, it's now included on all models. Last year saw the arrival of larger display screens in the dash and the instrument cluster. No changes are on hand in the engine room, where the QX80 continues to be motivated by Nissan's 5.6-liter V8 that makes 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, dispatched by a 7-speed automatic transmission. The 2021 Infiniti QX80 is on sale now. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.    

Infiniti EV coming in 2021

Infiniti announced that it will offer new electrified vehicles starting in 2021. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said that its luxury brand will build its first all-electric car in 2021, as well as new "e-Power" vehicles – series hybrids with batteries charged by gasoline generators. Nissan has introduced e-Power vehicles in other markets, including the Note e-Power and the Serena e-Power minivan. Now it will extend that technology to Infiniti, providing a similar driving experience to an EV with the convenience of a gas-powered vehicle. Infiniti also said that we can expect "beautiful vehicles" like the Q Inspiration Concept that debuted at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. Infiniti doesn't plan on producing the Q Inspiration, but it will certainly influence future vehicles in terms of both styling and technology. The Q Inspiration uses variable compression technology, which the company intends to use to improve efficiency and performance of its gasoline-powered cars. Infiniti expects half of its global sales to be electric vehicles by 2025 (it's not clear whether the automaker is lumping series hybrids into the electric vehicle category). And while there's no way that Infiniti will release a production version of its all-electric Prototype 9 EV, seen above, we'll hold onto that dream anyway. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.