IIHS: Rear Passenger Safety in Small Trucks Leaves Much To Be Desired

Acceptable is the overall rating, though. When it comes to rear passenger kinematics and restraints, the Frontier is marginal in the eyes of the nonprofit organization. The previous-gen Chevrolet Colorado (up to model year 2022) and previous-gen Toyota Tacoma (up to the 2023 model year) scored marginally as well, whereas their overall ratings in the updated overlap front test are both poor. Indeed, poor as in the worst.

The 2019 to 2023 model year Ford Ranger is marginal overall and poor for the rear passengers, whereas the Jeep Gladiator couldn't do better than poor overall and acceptable. A problem shared by all of these pickups is the rear passenger's head coming dangerously close to the front seatback. Dummy measurements indicated neck or chest injuries in most cases.

The Gladiator doesn't even have side curtain airbags for the rear occupants, which increases the risk of head injury from a hard impact with the side window, something coming from outside the side window, door, or the roll bar. The previous-gen Ranger's dummy submarined beneath the lap belt of the three-point seat belt, increasing the risk of internal injuries.

Regarding the driver's safety, all five provide good protection. However, IIHS testing revealed a risk of right foot or leg injuries in the Gladiator and Tacoma. Given these circumstances, fingers crossed the redesigned trucks will perform better in the nonprofit organization's updated moderate overlap front test in regard to rear passenger safety. Those trucks are the Colorado (new for 2023), Tacoma (new for 2024), and Ranger (new for 2024). The Gladiator is getting a refresh this year, whereas the Frontier received a revised ladder frame and body panels in 2021 for model year 2022.

When it comes to sales figures, the Tacoma dominated the segment last year with 237,323 units to its name. The Colorado followed suit with 89,197 units, the Jeep Gladiator tallied 77,855 units, and the Nissan Frontier moved 76,183 units. Rather surprisingly, the old-gen Ranger ended 2022 dead last with only 57,005 deliveries in the United States of America.

The redesigned Tacoma, Colorado, and Ranger all come with more standard and optional safety kit. Pricing has gone up as well, which is only natural given how much has changed from their previous generations. The Tacoma is believed to kick off at $30,000 or thereabout, the Colorado is $29,200 (sans destination charge), and the new Ranger starts at $32,565.

As expected, the Tacoma soldiers on as America's favorite mid-size pickup, moving 53,583 examples of the breed in the first quarter (January 2023 through March 2023). The Frontier is second with 16,926, Gladiator third with 13,575, Colorado fourth with 13,256, and Ranger second to last with 11,500.