Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Government/Legal, Toyota
Bouncing back: Toyota Tundra earns highest frontal crash test score from IIHS
About a month ago, we told you about the all-new Toyota Tundra's stunning four star NHTSA crash test score, which was lower than the five stars received by the F-150 and Silverado. Toyota seemed as surprised as anyone else by the test scores, and now they've saved some face by getting the highest possible score of "Good" from the IIHS in front crash testing for both the 2WD and 4WD Double Cab model. The poor showing in the NHTSA crash score testing was yet another blow to the Tundra as it was searching for respect in the ultra-competitive full-size pickup market, and with a "Good" score from the IIHS, we think the San Antonio-made Tundra got quite a bit of that respect back.
[Source: KickingTires]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
toyotasucks 7:42AM (5/01/2007)
I guess the "we think" at KickingTires are all retarded to believe the respect is back, how can you get something back you never had? Also thats the best the front of the truck has ever looked.
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Josiah 8:22AM (5/01/2007)
Soooo what's the difference between the NHTSA test and the IIHS test that caused the higher mark?
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Shawn 8:32AM (5/01/2007)
I would give smashing that ugly front end a "good" rating too.
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Autophile 8:43AM (5/01/2007)
NHTSA is a full frontal collision at 35mph, IIHS is an ofset frontal collision at 40mph. IIHS is a more severe test.
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Ken 8:43AM (5/01/2007)
Ditto#2
What is the difference between the tests? Getting a "good" rating from the IIHS does not negate getting only 4 out of 5 stars from the NHTSA. Perhaps the NHTSA test is more difficult to pass.
Sounds like you're advocating lowering the bar. If the truck can't get 5 stars from the NHTSA, then let's try an easier test!
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Mike 9:31AM (5/01/2007)
The real question is: HOW?
not that I am a sceptic, but what changes were made to this truck opposed to the first? Was this truck supplied by the manufacturer? If IIHS or NHTSA were to buy a truck off the lot and repeat, would the same results occur? Toyota made mention of 'fixing the problem'. Did ToMoCo add a brace, or a band-aid to the production pickup?
How was the same vehicle able to score differently in a controlled invironment? THAT is the question.
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SkiD666 9:31AM (5/01/2007)
NHTSA and IIHS are two different tests.
That said, the F150 still received better scores than the Tundra (new GMT-900's not tested yet) in the IIHS tests.
The reason they were both rated "good" is that IIHS has a larger range than NHTSA (4 possible outcomes vs 5 possible outcomes).
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Will 9:56AM (5/01/2007)
This just goes to show how imprecise and ineffective our current crash testing system is.
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ANdy 10:32AM (5/01/2007)
Why is there the need to have 2 different crash tests when one comprehensive test would suffice? I think it causes confusion as to which one is the better test as with the Tundra in the above story. Are there any other examples of a car getting full marks for one test and less for another?
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Bryan 10:45AM (5/01/2007)
LOL. Respect. Tundra. Sorry, those two words don't go together. Try again!
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ViktorVaughan 11:47AM (5/01/2007)
Ohh good, the anti-Toyota tards are out early today to provide me a hearty laugh as I start my workday.
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Bob-omb 12:08PM (5/01/2007)
Andy, yep, there are examples like these all the time. The Hyundai Accent did abysmally in the IIHS test, but in the NHTSA test they scored just fine. You'll see very few low scores on an NHTSA test compared to an IIHS test.
Ken, lovely for you to just assume that the IIHS test must be easier when in fact you're wrong. I've always trusted the IIHS tests much more. They've shown and published their scores/methodology much more than the NHTSA.
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J 12:29PM (5/01/2007)
@ Mike
All of these crash tests are done with cars off the lot. The way it is supposed to work is that the IIHS or NHTSA walk into a random toyota dealer and buy tundra and send toyota the bill.
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Mike 12:58PM (5/01/2007)
Thanks J, I always wondered how that was done
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dan 4:27PM (5/01/2007)
I never saw the big deal here. A collapsing deathtrap like the previous gen F150 would no doubt scare some buyers away but 98% of buyers who would change their vehicle choice based on 4 crash stars against 5 (read: women and even more so women with children) aren't buying a pickup truck regardless.
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joe bob 11:01PM (5/01/2007)
Ugly front end? Respect? Well, the crash test results weren't bad at all. Go ahead, laugh, joke . . . when you tire of knowing your mechanic on a first name basis, when you realize that you can own a vehicle that doesn't require lengthy repairs, when you discover that "maintenance" means changing the oil and filter, instead of seeing puddles of oil on the driveway, you will buy Toyota.
You, same ones who laughed at Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti - but the fate of Ford and Chevy trucks will be no different than their cars. Has beens - second rate, a relic. GM and Ford, tottering on bankruptcy . . .with good reason. The memories of dominance are nice, but just that - memories of times past. Go back to watching WWF.
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Squid 11:07PM (5/01/2007)
Do you think this test is what set Ford off. Can't wait to post about this at http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/ the guys and gals will get a good laugh because they all knew the first test had to be hog wash.
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eljennie 10:13AM (5/12/2007)
lets not forget that this is toyota's second or third time trying to build a truck.their desperate to prove their worth in the truck market.they need to pray that the tundra survives longer than that miserable failure t-100.then toyota can maybe in a hundred years sit at the table with CHEVY,FORD,and DODGE.stick too cars,nissan built abetter truck than toyota on their first go round.
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David Smith 10:04AM (5/15/2007)
To all the Toyota naysayers! I too believed that nobody built a better truck than Ford or Chevy. I work in the automotive industry and worked for a Ford dealership for years. I joined Toyota about7 years ago and your right the T-100 and 1st gen Tundra were not as capable as Ford and Chevy. However, let me say this.... I had the opportunity to visit the Indiana plant where the firt new gen Tundra were being built, and they are indeed a far far better product than anything in the market in a half ton truck. While there, I had the opportunity to test Dodge, Chevy, Ford and Nissan trucks against this new Tundra and I am here to testify the new Tundra smoked every truck out there in every test presented. This would include off road, straight out racing, towing and anything else you can think of, we tested. The biggest embarrasment came at the race track. My fellow Ford lovers... your truck came in dead last, and when you put a serious trailer behind it, it performed even worse. The new 07 Silverado was a great truck. Drive and ride was fine, but even still with the 6.0 liter engine, it wasn't even a match for the new Tundra. No truck out there has the raw horsepower and torque this truck has in a 1/2 ton gas engine truck. It has the largest rear diff of any truck in this market. It also blew away the competition in braking with or without a load due to it's massive 4piston braking system and huge rotors. Gentlemen, let me say this, only the unknowing or the loyal (because grandpa always bought a Ford) will continue to buy their products. Toyota Tundra is the finest product to ever be built. Put that in your corncob pipe and smoke on that awhile.... You really should test this truck for yourself before you speak and make a fool of yourself.
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Mitch 7:41AM (5/20/2007)
The truck is butt-ugly. I could care less if you were inveloped in an air bag while driving. I would not get caught dead in such an ugly truck. Not to mention how Toyota is a Jap company, and their bleeding our country of many US dollars. I know - its built here in America, but where are the parts built? Where are the profits recorded. Dose Toyota give their employees the level of benefits the domestic companies do?
Take a look at all the remaining Kerry/Edwards bumperstickers out there, 9 out of 10 are on a Toyota. I thought the montra for the Democrats was Jobs in America, and Health care.
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