2016 Toyota Tundra Has Room For Safety Improvements

Today the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released its findings after testing 2016 model year full-size pickup trucks. The only truck to earn a “Good” rating on all crash tests was the Ford F-150. Toyota’s Tundra has room for improvement on the important small frontal overlap test.

The small frontal overlap test simulates a vehicle striking a telephone pole or tree with just the front corner of the vehicle. In the real-world this is one of the most deadly types of crashes because vehicles have most of their structural strength inboard of the area that contacts the tree. In this important test, the 2016 Tundra DoubleCab scores “Acceptable.” However, the Tundra CrewMax scores lower, earning only a “Marginal” rating. Both were noted by IIHS to have poor results for the crash test dummy’s lower leg and foot. Commenting on the results of the DoubleCab Tundra, IIHS said, “Survival space for the driver in both of these extended-cab pickups was maintained reasonably well overall.”

On the important roof-strength test both Tundra Double Cab scored well, earning a “Good” rating. The CrewMax scored “Acceptable.” Rollovers account for 44% of pickup truck crash deaths, so this is a particularly important test for this type of vehicle.

Pickup buyers expect their trucks to be tough and safe. It seems reasonable that a big, heavy vehicle like the Toyota Tundra should be able to match the “Good” rating that the lightweight, small Prius earns. If Toyota redesigns the Tundra to score better, like it did with both the RAV4 and Camry, we will be sure to bring you that update.

For full test results for all pickups please see the IIHS summary here.