2024 Acura ZDX VS 2024 Honda PROLOGUE Crash Test IIHS

The 2024 Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue underwent crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), where both models performed well in several areas but fell short in others. Specifically, both vehicles earned an "Acceptable" rating in the small overlap front test, which prevented them from achieving a "Top Safety Pick" or "Top Safety Pick+" award. This rating resulted from the passenger dummy's head slipping between the front and side curtain airbags during the test—a critical factor for achieving the highest safety ratings.

Both models earned "Good" ratings in the updated side and moderate overlap front tests. The Acura ZDX's headlights received a "Good" rating for vehicles built after September 2024, while the Honda Prologue's headlights were rated "Acceptable." Both vehicles also scored "Acceptable" in pedestrian front crash prevention.

While the two vehicles share General Motors’ Ultium platform and technology, their IIHS results reflect specific challenges in passenger protection design, particularly for small overlap front impacts.

Small Overlap Front Test
- Performance Issue: Both vehicles received an "Acceptable" rating. The test revealed a specific problem: the passenger dummy’s head slipped between the front and side curtain airbags, which could increase the risk of head injury in real-world crashes. This prevented both vehicles from earning a "Good" rating, a prerequisite for IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards.

Other Crash Test Results
- Moderate Overlap Front Test: Both the ZDX and Prologue achieved "Good" ratings in the updated version of this test.
- Updated Side Test**: Both models also earned "Good" ratings, demonstrating robust protection in side-impact scenarios.

Pedestrian Crash Prevention
- Both SUVs scored an "Acceptable" rating for pedestrian front crash prevention, meeting the IIHS’s minimum safety requirements in this category.

Headlight Ratings
- The Acura ZDX earned a "Good" rating for headlights on models built after September 2024. However, earlier models were equipped with headlights rated "Poor."
- The Honda Prologue received an "Acceptable" rating for its headlights, indicating slight limitations in illumination or glare.

Additional Safety Features
Both vehicles received "Good" ratings in assessments for:
- Rear seat belt reminders.
- LATCH (child seat anchor) ease of use. These categories, while not part of the Top Safety Pick criteria, are important for family-oriented buyers.

Platform and Design Similarities
The Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue share General Motors’ Ultium platform and battery technologies. Their IIHS results reflect shared strengths and weaknesses in safety design. While both vehicles offer advanced crash protection in many areas, improvements are needed to address the small overlap front crash test performance.

These results highlight the importance of continued innovation in passenger airbag systems and crash protection, particularly in electric vehicle platforms. For further details, visit the IIHS’s full report or articles discussing these tests.