The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is a best-selling truck with superior crash prevention and decent crash test ratings. Yet it’s far from perfect. Experts tested the vehicle and found out that it comes with some issues.
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So, what is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma’s biggest weakness?
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The 2021 Toyota Tacoma Crashing Test
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has good crash test ratings for its small overlap front: driver, moderate overlap, side, roof strength, and head restraints and seats. What is the Toyota Tacoma’s biggest weakness? It’s a small overlap front: passenger side crash test rating, which is only acceptable.
Most of the ratings are also good within the small overlap front: passenger side crash test subcategories. The exception, and likely the reason it received only an acceptable rating, are the passenger injury measures, specifically the lower leg/foot. This rating was poor, which, as you might guess, is the worst it can get. The passenger restraints and dummy kinematics are also just acceptable.
Experts did a small overlap crash test on the driver and passenger sides. The small overlap front: driverside test measures how well a car does when the front left corner of the vehicle hits something like a tree or another car.
Initially, the IIHS started doing small overlap crash tests because they realized that car manufacturers weren’t paying attention to the front corners of the cars they made, and injuries and fatalities were high in accidents involving these areas of vehicles. They began testing the small overlap front: driver side to remedy this.
In response, car manufacturers began improving the safety of the driver’s side of the car. However, many car manufacturers didn’t carry these safety improvements over to the car’s passenger side, and it was much more dangerous on that side of the vehicle. Now that the IIHS tests both sides, overall safety is improving, but it still isn’t perfect.
To conduct the small overlap frontal tests, a vehicle travels at 40 mph. The car’s front left or right portion (depending on whether it’s the driver or passenger test) strikes a five-foot barrier.
Why is the Overlap Crash Test Important?
The small overlap front driver and passenger tests are important because they test how well the airbags and seatbelts do. They also gauge the effectiveness of safety cages.
Safety cages are meant to withstand a crash. They work with crush zones, which distribute the energy from a crash in a way that should reduce the impact on people in the car. These crash zones are in the middle of the front of the car, so it’s important to test the car’s outer edges.
In accidents like the small overlap crash tests, the crash energy goes into those front corners. This can include the wheel wells, which can then be pushed into the vehicle. When this happens, it can cause injury to the driver and passengers in the vehicle.
The small overlap tests determine how well the safety cage does when the force on a car isn’t on the crush zones. Overall, this midsize pickup is just an okay choice. The Tacoma’s biggest weakness is certainly that crash test rating.
If you’re looking for a midsize pickup truck, there aren’t many options with good crash test ratings across the board. If you’re willing to look for a bigger pickup truck, the Ram 1500 crew cab is a pretty good choice. Otherwise, pay attention to the crash test ratings and safety features in the truck you’re shopping for, and drive carefully.
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