Pick-up trucks are becoming increasingly popular as family vehicles these days. They love the utility provided by the storage bed, the frugality and hardiness of the turbodiesel engine, and the off-road capability to tackle our flood-cursed city centrals. Many small families do not mind the cramped interior that you get most of the time. While pick-ups are available with safety features like airbags and ABS, how safe are they in reality?
For the first time ever, Euro NCAP has tested pick-up trucks in the light of the vehicles becoming more and more popular for family usage, and it reveals to us some shocking facts. Three trucks were crashed – the Nissan Navara (second generation Frontier – ours is the first gen), the Isuzu D-MAX and the Mitsubishi L200 (known as the Triton in Malaysia). The following are the results:
Please read the following full crash test reports for full details:
Isuzu D-MAX, Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Navara
The Nissan Navara scored the worst in adult occupant protection – not even one proper star but only a struck-through star. According to the report, the chassis rail collapsed and the accelerator pedal moved as much as 20cm into the footwell – that would definitely cause really serious injury to your legs. The airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners also activated too late into the crash, which EuroNCAP says poses “a high risk of life threatening injury”.
Nissan has developed new airbag software for the Nissan Navara and all new Nissan Navaras now have the updated software. All existing Nissan Navaras on the road will also receive a free airbag software update at their service centers.
The Mitsubishi L200/Triton scored 4 stars for adult occupant protection, and if you view the full crash report, you will see that the driver’s body and leg protection ranged from weak to marginal, but at least the head received good protection.
Very shocking – please do read the full crash test reports linked above. It’s a pity EuroNCAP did not test the Toyota Hilux. The Toyota Hilux is one of the most popular pick-up trucks used as a family car here in Malaysia, plus a full-bodied 7-seater version of it is sold as the Fortuner.
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i agree, they should have tested the hilux, but i think the new one is much better than the previous one anyway- and i can’t believe the results for the navara, given that nissan is the sister company to renault which is famed for 5 star NCAP ratings
unlike what most people think, euroncap has not tested every single car in the world. they only do random testing like in the case of this pickup truck lineup, and only cars they have tested are found on their website.
i’m also very surprised by the dmax results, considering the fact that there are thousands on the road in thailand.
Buy Triton!
Its not surprising.
Trucks and light trucks do not have the same required crash requirements as cars do. When its not “required”, manufacturers will not design the vehicle to do so.
The North American market is also running into the same predicament. The powered to be is trying to apply legislation to encourage proper crash worthyness on light trucks.
Bear in mind how a light truck is contructed. On a unibody car, crash forces can be distributed gradually minimizing serious decelerative forces to the passengers. Careful crumple zone design also takes into effect, how big, solid items (ie. engines/gearbox) will move when its crashed, making sure intrusion into the cabin (and legs of the occupants) is minimal.
This is not applicable to light trucks. They have a frame design. The body is not load bearing. There isn;t really a crumple zone to speak of.
If you can understand this, you will understand why light trucks do so poor in crashes.
Very surprising Japanese 4×4 pickup do as bad as China 4×4!
My favorite pickup is Triton, lucky me.
Conclusion is that it is safer to be in a Mitsubishi L200 Triton. As for the Nissan Navara/Frontier, it is safer to be a child (3 star) or to be run over by it (2 star) than being an adult driving one (1/2 star).
y not Hilux in the list ?? in Sabah i didn;t c much Triton …. all is ViGo , Dmax & Ranger … but navara not yet sell here … nissan always the slower one
Damn, its sure is shocking! :O They should test all of the trucks in America and Thailand – the pick-up trucks capital of the world.
Yeah..previously i thot all ths 4×4/truck are a safer option until i saw in Fifth gear when they crash a Landrover Discovery wt a Renault Espace MPV….
Result, the Renault Espace is way off better compare to the ppl inside the Disco….at 1st glance the Disco sure look way much solid than the Espace MPV….until they crash it together
If you are a Hilux fan, don’t watch this test video.
But if you care about your life, then go ahead.
http://www.teknikensvarld.se/tvtv/071031-toyota-hilux/index.xml
Mind you, teknikendvarld also tested the A-class in 97 and found that it prones to turtle over, and Mercedes decided to go back to the drawing board.
Wonder what has/will Toyota do?
hmm i agree, shud have tested on the hilux as well…
look..quality cars have their weakness too..
jap car is the best…very safe one…have 2,4,8,1000 airbags…if crash definitely will not die..jap made good in quality..have 5,6,10 star crash test…definitely if crash i will safer inside….if have airbag the car is safer….the car is cool…wil not die…jap made is the best car on earth….guys its not only safety feature or brand that can save ur life…its how you drive is the most important….drive with concern of yourself your love one and other and the world will become safer especially at malaysia. peace
there is also crash test of the new Daihatsu Terios/Toyota Rush. Didnt u notice
www.euroncap.com/Content-Web-Article/5aa93e79-d5bd-4938-b26a-8973579dd57c/euro-ncap-picks-up-carmakers-weaknesses-in-new-cat.aspx
support Ford Ranger, lol~
harry potter,
thanks for the photos….
but do u think that the design is too simple??
Harry potter, where got crash test result for Toyota/Daihatsu Rush?? The information that i got is that this model is meant for Indonesia and China market only. In Malaysia it comes in as a CBU unit. And why did you mention Perdana when the topic is 4×4 safety? Besides, the Perdana was designed more than 10 years ago!
AND people think driving one of these is safe. It rolls over easily. Now it crashes badly! It’s a death trap.
It reminds me of the Innova, Avanza, Rush, Fortuner… Can all of them pass the test?
@car Craze
I don’t see where someone mentioned anything about a Perdana?
Please check up on NCAP’s site.
They have already tested the Daihatsu Sirion (Myvi) and the Terios (Rush). Both got 4 stars in thier respective category.
Of course i’m not oblivious to the fact that these European market models may have better safety gear like more airbags. But its a good indication of that you might expect, especially if you have a top line vehicle with the same airbag complement.
Off Topic- Picture of Toyota Innova crash (very clear)
www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/12901-toyota-innova-crash-pics.html
Harry potter,
It does little for you to post these “uncontrolled” crash pics. Proves nothing.
Back to the topic of 4×4 crashes, governmnets are trying to improve safety of light trucks as well as improve survivablility of the things they crash into. As these light trucks sit higher off the ground, their (crash) bumpers can be higher than most cars’ side impact beams, rendering them useless.
I was once in a Miata, and a Ford F250 bumper was at my head level. Not very reassuring.
They are trying to improve truck design with dual lvl bumpers, one to protect themselves, the other to protect occupants in other small cars. This is similar to anti-submarining rear crash bars on semi….which prevent a car from goign under a big lorry if you rear end one.
Sadly, even these rear crash bars are not implemented here. You will most likely be decapitated if you run into a lorry from the back. To make matters worst, they have extension beds…..
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kei9 said,
February 29, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
look..quality cars have their weakness too..
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Yeah, but the whole idea of car safety is to reduce ‘these weaknesses’ as low as they can get, because eliminating ‘these weaknesses’ altogether is virtually impossible! The human body is not meant to withstand such speeds.
Given that all circumstances are the same – speed, normal driving road conditions, weather etc – where do you think you want to be in? – In the cabin of a Volvo XC90 or an Isuzu D-Max?
If you’re not suicidal, I would bet that you’d rather be in the Volvo.
Therefore your argument there is conceptually flawed.
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chap_de_x said,
February 29, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
jap car is the best…very safe one…have 2,4,8,1000 airbags…if crash definitely will not die..jap made good in quality..have 5,6,10 star crash test…definitely if crash i will safer inside….if have airbag the car is safer….the car is cool…wil not die…jap made is the best car on earth….guys its not only safety feature or brand that can save ur life…its how you drive is the most important….drive with concern of yourself your love one and other and the world will become safer especially at malaysia. peace
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Airbags alone won’t save you! As you’ve read the article (you DID READ the article, did you?)
The article said –
“The airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners also activated too late into the crash, which EuroNCAP says poses “a high risk of life threatening injuryâ€.”
The software must be right. The way they design the insides and crumple zones and frames must be correct as well. Seatbelts, are more important than the airbags.
European cars are as good, if not better than some Japanese cars, as far as safety-during-an-accident is concerned.
You are right, though – the most important part in a car, is the NUT BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL.
Yeah baby. Mitsubishi kill them all.
The L200 could improve further by making it more pedestrain friendly. Mitusbishi makes the truck safer for the occupants by not for other road users, especially pedestrains. Unfortunately it is aslo true for many, if not all trucks on Malaysian roads today. It’s high time our Ministry of Transport create a formula for all trucks and cars regarding this issue. (Pedestrain safety). Probably after the general elections?
pick ups also got ?
lolz !!!
it seems like light trucks are way behind interms of safety. Its unacceptable fact if u ask me in this time of days. Surely they can do better and for that i give it to mitsubishi for maintaining the standard for truck safety. Safety shouldn’t be compromise, in small or big cars.
As paul mentioned, the Hilux platform is also used for the Fortuner. But I’d be more worried about the Innova as it also uses the same platform, and it is specifically to carry people. Imagine one geting into an accident. There could be potentially 8 people on board. Also, looking at the tendency to roll over.
But then again, people who buy this type of vehicles should understand that it is not a car to take corners at high speeds, as it is designed to carry loads and people. For driving pleasures, buy a sports car..
paul no updates ar… gone campaigning issit? hehehehehe
dont be so sure the L200 is safe enuf…the report said clearly that in front collision, protection of the driver’s chest was rated as weak owing to the extent to which the dummy’s chest was compressed in the test. plus some more serious injury possibilities….L200 score full marks on side collisions that why its got 4 star rating…my point is, the possibilities from front collision is more higher then side collision… just my opinion
Paul, Just wanna check in, do you have any information regarding the price and what spec will toyota takes in Altis?Thanks
Now this proves that pickups are not safe vehicles
how about hummer how many star its will get. that super expensive beast….
I got it, CBU Corolla Altis 1.6 @ 102k +
1.8E @ 109k, 1.8G @ 117k.. (Initial estimation)
God bless Altis, Civic had it over the street, even Mit X 2.0 @ 115k, Elantra 2.0 @ 94k..
Indirect compete from Nissan Latio/ Livina 1.6 @ 86k, 1.8 @ 95k..
Toyota never learn from New Vios lessen.
Anyone heard of latest Hyundai Coupe?I was in carrefour Wangsa Maju, selling @ 132k.. Total redefined the Hyundai design.Loved it, but out of my budget..
Any suggestions about Hyundai’s quality? My boss kids drove an Accent, says sucks..My parents’ Sonata, says superb..How about latest Elantra, anyone driving? I haven’t seen any on street thou, they say hav ready stocks,I saw it by my eye, lotz of them,lol.
Check out this, try it when u’re walking along the parking lot.
No offence, i’ll never know whether it’s ur car.
The trial is>
Try to hit all the cars bonnet along side when u’re walking thru them,
hit a mercy, a BM, a ptoton, a Nissan, a Honda, n then a Toyota.(Pong, pong~)
I hit an Altis, it sounds pretty much like i’m trying to shut my milo cann,0_o”
P/S: If you don’t know what is a Milo, check in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CanofMilo.jpg