April 23, 2001--
People in Utah like to drive SUV's.
But how safe are they?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested three new small 2001 S.U.V.'s in a 40 mile-per-hour frontal offset crash test.
The Hyundai Santa Fe did the best, receiving a good rating.
The Toyota RAV-4, which has been redesigned since it debuted in 1998, received an average rating, which was an improvement over its previous rating.
And the new Ford Escape received a 'disappointing' marginal rating.
Small SUV's weigh almost the same as midsize cars, which means crash test results can be compared directly.
To see how other vehicles tested, go to the www.hwysafety.org
