The New York Times, "Few SUVs Win Highest U.S. Safety Ratings"

General Motors' sport utility vehicles generally have poor ratings in the government's frontal crash tests but perform well in side-impact crashes, according to results released Wednesday. The 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer, Buick Rainier, GMC Envoy, GMC Envoy XUV and Oldsmobile Bravada each earned three out of five stars in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's frontal crash tests. But they earned five stars on the side-impact tests. Three stars means there is a 21 percent to 35 percent chance of serious injury in a similar real-world crash. NHTSA conducts the front-impact test at 35 mph and the side-impact test at 38.5 mph.

The Saturn Vue, Toyota Highlander and Infiniti FX were the only SUVs of the 13 tested to receive five stars in both the front- and side-impact tests.The Dodge Durango received five stars on the frontal crash test but it wasn't put through a side-impact test. The results indicate that side air bags make a bigger difference in passenger cars, which are at risk of being hit by taller and larger vehicles. Crash test results reported last month by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed cars with side air bags protected passengers better than those without.