Why Only Two Small Pickups Earned The Safety Award
The auto industry is constantly evolving with innovative hard yards venturing into the ultimate pursuit of safety. The priority to ensure utmost protection for drivers and occupants has never been more pronounced. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) held this critical factor to evaluate the safety features of small pickup trucks lately, and surprisingly, only two models secured the top safety award.
These were none other than the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger, the two models that won hearts not just in terms of their aesthetics, power, and off-road prowess, but also in achieving high-lighted safety benchmarks.
How the IIHS Determines Top Safety Picks
The IIHS bases its evaluation on a series of stringent tests. Pickup trucks are required to score “good” ratings in six crashworthiness tests, including the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests.
Additionally, they must receive an “advanced” or “superior” rating for front crash prevention and a “good” or “acceptable” headlight rating to qualify for such prestigious recognition.
Toyota Tacoma: A Safe Choice
Toyota Tacoma, the first to win the safety award, extends beyond being a symbol of durability and reliability. It garnered high ratings in almost all the crashworthiness tests conducted by the IIHS.
Tacoma’s front crash prevention was particularly impressive, with the pickup’s Pre-Collision System (PCS) with pedestrian detection earning the “superior” rating. This advanced safety system can help to reduce the severity of or completely avoid collisions with vehicles or pedestrians.
Key Safety Features Worth Noting
Toyota’s standard Safety Sense P (TSS-P) suite was a contributing factor to the Tacoma’s success. The suite includes auto high beams, lane departure alert, dynamic radar cruise control, and several other protective mechanisms.
Apart from these, Tacoma offers additional safety features like a tire pressure monitoring system, active traction control, vehicle stability control, and brake assist which are part of Toyota’s Star Safety System.
Ford Ranger: Securing Your Journeys
The other star of the scrutiny was Ford Ranger that demonstrated uncompromising safety standards for its consumers. This compact pickup performed exceptionally well in every crash test and was praised for its top-notch crashworthiness.
Ranger’s Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking came into its own during the front crash prevention tests. The system’s ability of detecting a potential collision and applying brakes automatically effectively led Ranger to achieve a “superior” score.
Ranger’s Standout Safety Specifications
Ford CoPilot360, an impressive array of safety technologies, plays a significant role in its award-winning performance. This includes blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping system, and auto high-beam headlamps.
Ranger also provides an optional adaptive cruise control system and its standard SOS post-crash alert system which ensures the passengers are always under a protective shield.
Moving Forward: Safety in the Automotive Sphere
The top safety picks from the IIHS carry immense significance in the automotive industry. Consumers do value these recognitions as they offer a reliable basis to judge a vehicle’s safety strengths and weaknesses.
The fact that only two small pickups, the Tacoma and Ranger, met these standards might lead to a critical overview across the auto industry. Other manufacturers would be striving for higher benchmarks, enhancing their vehicles to assure absolute safety.
In an industry where safety is an ever-evolving facet, these small pickup vehicles provide a glimpse into a safer and better-protected future on four wheels.
To end, the crowning of Tacoma and Ranger is a reminder that safety is an uncompromisable facet in automotive design. So if you’re on the hunt for a small pickup with solid safety credentials, these compelling models are your best bets.