Small trucks crash tested, results not good

Posted Thu Jul 24 2008 12:33 PM by Nelson Ireson

As more buyers in the market for a pickup truck eye the smaller, more fuel-efficient alternatives to the major brands' full-size offerings, the attention is beginning to reveal some unpleasant details. Safety ratings based on IIHS crash tests indicate that many of the smaller pickup trucks on the market today offer dismal impact protection.

Some of the worst offenders are the Chevrolet Colorado (pictured) and its GMC Canyon doppelganger. Absent the optional side airbags, the truck scores the lowest rating possible for side impact. Marginally better were the Dodge Dakota and Mitsubishi Raider, also without side airbags, along with the Nissan Frontier, similarly equipped. Ford's Ranger and Mazda's B-series trucks, which share a platform, also scored with this group, rating at the next-to-lowest 'marginal' level. Neither the Ford nor the Mazda even offer side airbags as an option.

Only one small pickup scored a top rank of 'good' - the Toyota Tacoma, tested with side airbags that were optional for 2008, but which become standard equipment in 2009, reports MSNBC. The other pickups tested would likely fare much better if equipped with the optional side airbags, so those in the market should not choose to skimp in that department.

Front crash ratings for the small pickup crowd are generally stronger, with the Tacoma, Dakota, Frontier and Raider all scoring the highest rating, while the Ranger, B-Series, Canyon and Colorado all managed the second-tier score of 'acceptable'.

Reader Comments

Thu Jul 24 2008 3:14 PM
Gus says

Ok, so it's all about the airbags.
What they do is if it's an option, they test without it.
But in my opinion, being a couple of feet higher up still offers many advantages, as the primary impact force from a normal car would be lower on your body.
That's the problem with an SUV hitting a car from the side, the head of the car driver is right in line with the hood and grill of the SUV...
Thu Jul 24 2008 10:14 PM
Ade says

Agree with Gus, head of driver fully exposed to side impact. That's why Volvo and a host of other manufacturers have imposed Side Impact Airbags as mandatory for their vehicles. Wish the big car manufacturers would do the same without significantly raising the car price. Safety 1st!
Fri Jul 25 2008 4:08 AM
Andrey says

yeah, they need to consider safety as a top priority, i'm sure that most of the people would gladly pay a bit more just to be safe

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