IIHS Crash Test Shows 1996 Chevrolet Blazer Far Less Safe Than 2026 Model

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently conducted a frontal crash test comparing a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer with the 2026 model to mark 30 years of its rigorous crash testing program. The test, performed at 64 km/h with a 40% overlap, demonstrated a stark contrast in safety between the two vehicles, both of which are sold in Israel.

In the collision, the 2026 Blazer's passenger compartment remained intact, and injury measurements from the crash test dummy indicated minimal risk of serious harm, except for a slightly elevated but acceptable risk to the driver's right leg. Conversely, the 1996 Blazer suffered severe cabin intrusion, with the dashboard and steering column pushed into the dummy's knees. The fully inflated airbag struck the dummy's chin and held its head back, causing a simulated upper neck fracture and decapitation, illustrating the extreme forces involved.

The IIHS uses precise injury metrics from sensors inside the dummy rather than visible damage to assess injury risk. These metrics showed the 1996 model would almost certainly cause serious head, neck, and leg injuries. When new, the 1996 Blazer had a low safety rating, consistent with models produced from 1995 to 2004, while newer Blazers since the model's 2019 reintroduction receive good ratings.

The IIHS estimates that safety improvements prompted by its crash tests have saved approximately 48,352 lives in the U.S. between 1999 and 2024 and prevented $500 billion in costs. Amy Schumacher, an IIHS statistician and lead author of the research, noted the difficulty but importance of quantifying the monetary value of human life to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of safety interventions.

This test follows a similar IIHS comparison of a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air and a 2009 Malibu, which also debunked the myth that older cars are inherently safer due to their heavier construction.