Small Pickups Not Safe in Side Crashes

July 2008

As gas prices continue to increase, many consumers are abandoning large trucks and opting for smaller pickups, which get more miles to the gallon. However, some small pickups have disadvantages, as recent crash test results have shown that they fare poorly in automobile accidents.

The Institute for Highway Safety reported that many small pickups of the 2008 model year failed to provide proper protection in side crashes, the second-most common type of car accident. Side-impact crashes resulted in about 9,000 fatalities in 2006. Versions of the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon tested poorly without their optional side airbags, receiving the institute's lowest rating on the four-scale rating system.

Without side airbags, the Dodge Dakota, Mitsubishi Raider, Ford Ranger, Mazda B-Series, and Nissan Frontier received the institute's second-lowest rating. The 2008 Toyota Tacoma was the only small pickup to be awarded with the highest score in side crash tests and will include standard side airbags in all its upcoming 2009 models. Automobile manufacturers are planning on making side airbags standard by the 2010 model year.