Midsize Pickups Perform Well in Side-Impact Crash Tests

Nearly a quarter of all fatal crashes on roads in the United States are the result of side-impact collisions. IIHS recently updated its testing procedures for this type of crash in an effort to better reflect the reality of roads increasingly filled with SUVs. The institute published the results of its tests on the current crop of midsize pickups late last year, with five of the six models tested receiving a good or acceptable rating. The Toyota Tacoma was the only model that failed to earn either of these ratings, receiving a marginal rating. Here’s how everything played out.

In the previous version of the IIHS side-impact test, a 3,300-kilogram barrier was propelled into a test vehicle at a speed of 50 km/h. After realizing that the test no longer reflected the forces involved in real-world side-impact crashes, IIHS revised the procedure. The test now uses a much larger 4,200-kilogram barrier designed to better represent the size of the midsize SUVs that are increasingly common on our roads. The barrier is also accelerated to 60 km/h in the new test, which, combined with its increased weight, results in a significant increase in impact force.

The Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Honda Ridgeline all received good ratings in the side-impact tests. The structures of these vehicles held up quite well after being struck by the barrier, although sensor data indicated a potential risk of pelvic injuries in all three pickups. The Nissan Frontier and Ford Ranger received acceptable ratings, although this was not due to weaknesses in their structures or occupant compartments. In fact, the Frontier’s occupant compartment held up better than any of the others. Unfortunately, rear occupants in both the Frontier and Ranger managed to make contact with the C-pillar despite the presence of curtain airbags. As a result, both vehicles received marginal scores for rear occupant head protection.

The structure and occupant compartment of the Toyota Tacoma did not hold up as well as those of its competitors in the segment. In fact, the impact crushed the door sill and B-pillar to the point where the B-pillar was displaced to within just a few inches of the driver’s seat center. This alone was enough for IIHS to give the Tacoma a marginal rating, as structural performance carries significant weight in the institute’s overall rating system. It is worth noting that the data showed a minimal risk of injury despite the Tacoma’s structural shortcomings.

The Tacoma is not the only vehicle experiencing problems, with the sedan segment proving rather disappointing as well. The Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Chevy Malibu all received poor ratings during the 2022 side-impact testing cycle. Hopefully, automakers will be willing to address these safety issues in the future, especially as they continue to produce SUVs at unprecedented rates.