Toyota, Chevy, GMC earn IIHS safety test

The Toyota Tacoma double cab, Tacoma access cab, Chevrolet Colorado crew cab, and GMC Canyon crew cab earned top marks in a small-overlap front crash test of eight midsize pickups by the Insurance institute for Highway Safety.

According to Auto News the Colorado and Canyon extended cab both earned “acceptable” marks, while the Nissan Frontier king cab and crew cab — the oldest vehicles tested — earned “marginal” ratings. IIHS said it tested two body styles of each pickup because results can differ between cab designs.

Although four of the eight pickups earned “good” ratings, none of the vehicles qualified for either of IIHS’s Top Safety Pick awards because they have poorly rated headlights, and don’t have an automatic emergency braking system.

IIHS Chief Research Officer, David Zuby said in a statement: “This group of small pickups performed better in the small overlap front test than many of their larger pickup cousins.” The exception was the Nissan Frontier, which hasn’t had a structural redesign since the 2005 model year.”

Small-overlap crashes account for about 25 percent of the serious driver injuries and deaths that occur in frontal impacts, IIHS says.

The test involves 25 percent of a vehicle’s front end on the driver side striking a 5-foot-tall barrier at 40 mph.