The phrase “they don’t make them like they used to” is thrown around a lot; however, in some cases, this is absolutely a good thing. As shown in a recent video published by the IIHS, the video showed how a 1996 Chevy Blazer compared against a 2026 model in a crash test.
The test was carried out to mark the 30th anniversary of the IIHS crash testing program, using a car from the year that the tests began. In the video, we see the two cars in a special, head-to-head version of the institute’s moderate overlap front crash test.
It probably won’t come as a shock to see that crash safety in cars has improved dramatically in the last 30 years or so. Safety is the number one priority for any manufacturer, as they all seek to keep occupants alive or free from serious injury in a major road accident.
What may be a shock is how much safety has improved. As the crash demonstration shows us, modern cars have a far higher likelihood of protecting those inside than those that were on the market when the IIHS was first set up.
What We See in the Chevy Blazer Crash Demonstration
In the crash demo, the two cars are launched towards each other in a head-on collision. This is one of the best ways to test vehicle safety, and the cars were launched towards each other at just under 40mph. The two vehicles had a 40 percent frontal overlap during the accident. You might think the results are predictable, but the crash itself is both chilling and reassuring for those in more modern cars.
The second the two cars hit, the 1996 Blazer’s damage was very evident compared to the 2026 model. The roof and driver’s door on the 1996 SUV crumple virtually instantly, with the roof bending hard and the front-left side of the Blazer suffering massive damage. The interior camera shows the steering column and dashboard launched towards the driver, and slamming the crash test dummy into the seat in a secondary impact. “The driver of the 1996 model would have suffered serious, potentially fatal injuries,” said the IIHS.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Chevy Blazer got away with much lighter damage. The crumple zone at the front of the Blazer performs correctly, absorbing the impact, and the rest of the impact is taken around the passenger compartment rather than through it directly. Compared to the other Blazer, the front of the 2026 model has survived very well, with minimal crumpling. “The driver of the new Blazer would likely have walked away with bumps and bruises,” said the IHHS.
Other Crash Tests Have Shown Improvements in Safety
The IIHS has done similar tests in the past. To mark the company’s 50th anniversary, a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air was run into a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, with the Bel Air suffering far worse damage than the 2009 car. What is particularly shocking about this most recent test, however, is that a comparatively modern SUV, fitted with airbags and other safety features, still fared very poorly.
Given there are plenty of cars of a similar vintage still on American roads, this is a scenario that could well happen in real life. According to the IIHS, safety advances since the mid-1990s have saved nearly 50,000 lives. “These results highlight the role of IIHS ratings in driving many of the key vehicle safety improvements of the past 30 years,” IIHS chief operating officer Joe Nolan said.