Here’s Why So Many New Cars Still Fail The Moose Test

The dreaded moose test—we’ve all seen it before. The test designed to simulate an evasive maneuver by swerving around an imaginary moose has seen many failures as of recent, but why is that? That’s exactly what Driven Media answers in their newest video, which explains exactly what factors are at play when it happens.

You’d think that as cars’ technology advanced over the years, so would their ability to maneuver the moose test. However, it’s not so cut and dry. For some background on the test, ideally, it’s performed on a dry surface with the car fully loaded with people and luggage to simulate a worst-case scenario. Most of the tests are done at speeds up to 40-50 mph (64-80 km/h), and while that may not sound like a lot, with the way the test is set up, the vehicles’ occupants can experience a significant amount of G-force.

See Also: Watch How The New Mercedes-Benz S-Class Deals With The Famous Moose Test

So why do modern cars struggle with this test despite having so many technological advancements? It has to do with a number of factors, most of which relate to weight distribution and transfer. For example, the Toyota Hilux‘s suspension wasn’t stiff enough, allowing it to roll too much in the corners. The same was true for the Toyota RAV4 and Jeep Grand Cherokee, the latter of which even sent the tire off the wheel due to the cornering forces.

In the case of cars like the Porsche Macan, its electronic driver aids were too smart for their own good, while for vehicles like the VW Passat GTE/Skoda Superb, their rear-mounted batteries threw off their weight transfer. Probably one of the most surprising failures of the moose test, though, was the new BMW M4 Competition, whose performance-oriented tail-happy nature cause it to spin out.

To watch Driven Media’s full breakdown on the topic, you can check it out in the video below.