Which trucks performed best in the updated side crash safety tests? | Biden News

Six trucks were included in recent tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and most of the trucks tested gave positive results.

The Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab, GMC Canyon Cab, and Honda Ridgeline Cab received good marks.

In order to receive a “Good” rating, the basic interior structure of the car must hold up well. The condition of the two crash test dummies after the accident should indicate a low probability of serious or fatal injury. All three trucks showed the possibility of a fractured pelvis in the driver.

For this year’s test, the crash test dummies were in the driver’s seat and in the back seat directly behind the driver. The dimensions of the mannequins imitated a small woman or a 12-year-old child.

Changes were made to the side crash test after studies showed that this type of crash accounts for about a quarter of vehicle fatalities.

The new test used a 4,200-pound sled traveling at 37 mph, so the impact is much greater. An earlier version of the side impact test used a 3,300-pound sled traveling at 31 mph.

The crew cab of the Nissan Frontier and the crew cab of the Ford Ranger were rated as acceptable.

The Frontier’s design held up the best of all six trucks, but the dummy heads in both “acceptable” trucks hit the rear seat support beam through the side curtain airbags.

The crew cab of the Toyota Tacoma was rated as minor because the structure and roll cage were not supported by the impact.

Automakers have known since 2018 that the standard IIHS side impact test would become more stringent to make vehicles safer, but many of the models that passed the test were designed too recently to meet those standards.