2026 Blazer VS. 1996 Blazer - HEAD-TO-HEAD CRASH TEST

An IIHS moderate overlap front crash test pairs a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer with a 2026 Chevrolet Blazer in a head-on old car versus new car comparison. The test was staged to mark the 30th anniversary of the IIHS crash testing program. According to the description, the 2026 Blazer kept its occupant compartment intact with minimal injury risk for the driver dummy, while the 1996 model's cabin collapsed and its airbag snapped the dummy's head back. The video also places the comparison in context: IIHS research credits 30 years of crashworthiness improvements with saving nearly 50,000 lives. The description notes that the 1996 Blazer rated poorly in the original moderate overlap test, while Blazers built after the 2019 return earn good ratings. Results apply only to models sold in the USA.

• IIHS moderate overlap front test: 1996 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2026 Chevrolet Blazer
• 2026 model kept its occupant compartment intact; 1996 model cabin collapsed
• Marks 30 years of the IIHS crash testing program
• Results valid only for models sold in the USA

IIHS crash test puts a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer against a 2026 Blazer in a head-on old car vs new car comparison that shows exactly how far vehicle safety has come in 30 years. To mark the 30th anniversary of its crash testing program, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety staged this head-to-head moderate overlap front crash test, and the result is one of the most dramatic old vs new car crash test demonstrations since the famous 1959 Bel Air versus 2009 Malibu video. In this IIHS crash test, the 2026 Chevrolet Blazer's occupant compartment stayed intact, and nearly every injury measurement on the driver dummy pointed to minimal injury risk. The driver would likely have walked away with little more than bumps and bruises. The 1996 Chevrolet Blazer told a very different story: the impact crushed the cabin, drove the dashboard and steering column into the dummy, and the fully inflated airbag snapped the head back violently. A driver in the older Blazer would have faced serious, potentially fatal injuries. This old vs new car crash test isn't just shocking footage. It explains why modern crumple zones, stronger occupant compartments, and better airbags matter, and why the myth that older cars were built like tanks simply doesn't hold up. The 1996 Blazer earned a poor rating in the original moderate overlap front test, while Blazers built after the model's 2019 return earn good ratings. The bigger story behind this crash test comparison is the lives saved. IIHS research credits 30 years of crashworthiness improvements with saving nearly 50,000 lives, worth an estimated 500 billion dollars to society. From the moderate overlap front test to side crash and small overlap evaluations, this is car safety evolution in its clearest form. Watch the full 1996 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2026 Blazer crash test, then tell us in the comments whether you used to believe old cars were safer. Like, dislike, subscribe, and hit the bell for more car safety and crash test videos. These results are valid only for models sold in the USA – Follow us: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW2OUlFrrWiZvSsZRwOYmNg Join us to enjoy exclusive benefits: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW2OUlFrrWiZvSsZRwOYmNg/join ✅ Source: IIHS Original content at iihs.org or Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7rCjQe2LSyl9uT7A9Zr4g If you are interested to request to use the original content for any purpose, please contact legal@iihs.org.