Why are rear passengers suddenly at risk in crash tests? Many drivers assume that a brand-new crossover automatically guarantees maximum protection for every occupant inside. However, the latest crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety prove that rear-seat safety remains a major hurdle for even the most popular family vehicles. In the institute's updated moderate overlap frontal crash test, high-profile crossovers like the redesigned Audi Q3 and Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid stumbled significantly due to inadequate rear restraint systems. Why are rear passengers suddenly at risk? The IIHS updated its moderate overlap frontal crash test to address a growing disparity in occupant protection. While front seats have benefited from decades of advanced airbag and seatbelt technology, second-row passengers often face higher risks during frontal collisions. To measure this, engineers place a dummy representing a small woman or a 12-year-old child behind the driver's seat. In these revised evaluations, the primary failure point across multiple vehicles stems from seatbelts slipping out of position. When a crash occurs, a lap belt must stay firmly anchored across the strong pelvic bones. If the lap belt slides upward into the soft abdomen, the extreme forces compress internal organs directly against the spine, drastically increasing the risk of severe abdominal injuries and internal bleeding. At the same time, shoulder belts that ride up toward the occupant's neck lose their restraint efficiency and increase chest injury risks. How did the Audi Q3 and Toyota RAV4 perform? The redesigned Audi Q3 received the lowest IIHS rating of Poor in the updated moderate overlap test. Despite Audi making structural changes to the rear seat belts in May 2026, crash testing showed the rear lap belt still slipped off the pelvic bone onto the dummy's abdomen, while the shoulder belt moved dangerously close to the neck. Outside of this specific back-seat evaluation, the $44,400 (about 166,500 Saudi riyals and 163,100 UAE dirhams) entry-level German crossover performed exceptionally well, earning top marks for its crash structure, front occupant safety, and standard active emergency braking. Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 255 hp and 370 Nm of torque paired with standard Quattro all-wheel drive, the Audi Q3 remains strong in traditional metrics but misses the mark in second-row safety. Toyota experienced a mixed outcome with its popular RAV4 lineup. The standard RAV4 Hybrid earned an Acceptable rating because its rear lap belt stayed securely over the pelvis, though its shoulder belt migrated toward the neck, causing moderate risk to the chest and head. However, the heavier RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid dropped to a Marginal score. The extra curb weight of the PHEV powertrain exerted higher crash forces, causing both the shoulder belt to climb toward the neck and the lap belt to ride up into the abdominal area. Who actually passed the test? Earning top honors in this stringent test requires quick engineering responses. Nissan proved that targeted design fixes can yield immediate results. Early production runs of the redesigned Nissan Kicks initially scored Poor in second-row protection. Nissan promptly revised the rear seat belts and load limiters for models built after June 2026, elevating the crossover to a Good rating and securing the coveted IIHS Top Safety Pick award. The Volkswagen Jetta also earned a Good rating in the updated moderate overlap test. Conversely, the Chevrolet Trailblazer struggled alongside the Audi Q3, earning a Poor rating due to similar rear-seat restraint flaws. These mixed results highlight that vehicle size and price do not guarantee back-seat protection under modern safety standards.

Automakers are investing in new US factories, but not Mazda. Published Oct 29, 2026, 2:20 PM EDT Tom started his career as a daily newspaper reporter in metro Detroit and after a decade changed course to cover cars, spending the next 25 years at Wards Automotive doing test drives, technology and supplier coverage, editing WardsAuto World magazine and managing the Wards 10 Best competitions for powertrains, then interiors, then the user experience. He became executive editor at Autoweek in 2022 and joined Valnet in 2025. At CarBuzz, he's returned to his roots: a reporter seeking out news and trends and telling stories, but with more experience. Tom's wife has been putting up with him since 1990, and they have two adult children. He runs half-marathons and plays guitar in a rock band with other Detroit auto writers, called the Exhaust Tones. It's been five years since the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing joint venture plant in Huntsville, Alabama, started production. This week, as both automakers celebrate production of the 1 millionth vehicle at the $2.3-billion facility, Carbuzz explore where the relationship between Toyota and Mazda is heading. The Huntsville event amounts to a victory lap for two vastly different Japanese automakers that fused two corporate cultures within Alabama's largest city to create jobs and expand local opportunities. But in an exclusive interview, CarBuzz learned Mazda isn't keen to grow its US operations despite the current climate that makes importing products a costly endeavor. Mazda wants to sell more cars in the US. The Huntsville plant can produce 300,000 vehicles annually on two shifts, or 150,000 for each automaker. Last year, MTM built nearly 136,000 Corolla Crosses and about 120,000 CX-50s. But Mazda overall has been growing, and the automaker's two best sales years in the US were 2024 (424,382 vehicles) and 2025 (410,346). After two solid years, Mazda North America CEO Tom Donnelly told CarBuzz this week that Mazda is on pace for "our best year ever" in 2026. "September was our best ever. October should be our best ever," he said. Donnelly has set his sights on achieving 500,000 annual US sales by 2030, but how Mazda grows beyond that raises questions about the need for new manufacturing capacity. US sales through September were 310,268, down 2.9% from 2025. Is Mazda willing to build US plants for more production? While some automakers are increasing investments in US manufacturing as a way to avoid tariffs on imported vehicles, Mazda is thinking differently, even without its own wholly-owned assembly plant in the US. Mazda's plant in Mexico produces the CX-30 for the US, but Mazda's other vehicles come from Japan, subjecting them to 15% US tariffs. That puts Mazda at a disadvantage in the US compared to rivals Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Subaru, which all have US factories. It appears Mazda is being cautious, as Donnelly said the 500,000-unit threshold can be reached in "an industry that's fairly stable," and that any growth must be "driving profitable volume." The partnership with Toyota in Alabama cuts Mazda's investment in half and diminishes risk while Mazda gains valuable manufacturing experience alongside Toyota. "Going in alone anymore is more and more challenging just because these are massive billion dollar investments... You're seeing more and more of that in terms of leaning into partnerships, not just us and Toyota, but across the industry." -Tom Donnelly, Mazda North America CEO, speaking to CarBuzz The Toyota partnership has been good for Mazda. In addition to the CX-50, Huntsville also launched a CX-50 Hybrid in December 2024, using Toyota's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, three electric motors, and a CVT. That new hybrid drivetrain makes up about 35% of CX-50 sales. The plant builds 1,200 vehicles per day, about 600 each on Toyota's "Apollo" assembly line and on Mazda's "Discovery" line. With 4,500 workers coming from a 75-mile radius, the plant has provided an economic stimulus for the region. CarBuzz insight - why this matters. Donnelly told CarBuzz the next-generation CX-50 will also come from Huntsville, but apparently it's too early to talk about other North American capacity. Tariffs forced Mazda last year to move Mazda3 production for the US from Mexico to Japan, while the CX-50 produced in Alabama is no longer available in Canada. That sort of explains why the two-row CX-70, assembled in Japan, will still go to Canada, even though it's being dropped for the US. While Mazda continues pushing US sales growth, having to eventually find a way to build more cars is "a good problem to have," an executive told Carbuzz. But even good problems are still problems that need solutions. And if the tariff situation doesn't improve, Mazda will need those solutions to realize its sales ambitions in the US.

Nissan to showcase 300-hp Sentra Spec-V concept at 2026 SEMA. Nissan is set to showcase the Sentra Spec-V concept at the upcoming 2026 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas from November 3 to 6. The Sentra Spec-V packs potent power comparable to the Honda Civic Type-R. The Sentra Spec-V concept is a nod to the Nissan Sentra SE-R, a sport compact sedan that was made available in the North American market 35 years prior. As such, the Japanese automaker said that the Sentra Spec-V concept is a tribute to the community that made the Sentra SE-R a notable model. The concept car comes with an assertive demeanor along with a sporty look. The stock Nissan Sentra already has a sharp front fascia, but the Sentra Spec-V concept is fitted with an even bolder and more commanding stance. This is due to the BOMEX widebody kit, which adds muscle and more performance-oriented appeal to the Sentra. The SEMA-bound concept car also has a custom vented hood with a functional intake inlet, a custom side-exit exhaust, a Terminax vehicle wrap, and an R35 GT-R NISMO rear spoiler. The Nissan Sentra Spec-V concept sits on a set of 19-inch wheels wrapped in 265/35R19 Yokohama Advan Neova tires. It also has Brembo brakes and is fitted with upgraded front shocks, track-spec damping profiles, and aggressive spring rates. Inside, the Nissan Sentra Spec-V concept comes with a black interior theme with red accents and stitching. It is equipped with R35 GT-R NISMO Recaro front seats, a custom black interior, a NISMO steering wheel, and a custom seatbelt harness bar. Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 300 horsepower, paired with an upgraded six-speed manual transmission from the Nissan Juke NISMO RS. Will Nissan be offering the Sentra Spec-V anytime soon? The quick answer to that is no, as SEMA concept cars are not for sale, according to Nissan. However, Nissan noted that ideas explored through Nissan's SEMA builds can influence future production vehicles. Autocar's take. The Sentra Spec-V concept is a vehicle that shows what Nissan can do when it decides to produce and develop a performance-oriented compact sedan. Based on the specs, the Nissan Sentra Spec-V can go up against the likes of the Honda Civic Type-R. The Sentra Spec-V concept features a 300-hp turbocharged engine, a 6-speed manual, and track-ready upgrades. Nissan currently does not have a direct challenger to the Honda Civic Type R, and the Sentra Spec-V could fill that slot if Nissan has the resources for it.