GM full-size trucks earn industry's "only" 5-star side-impact rating
You have to watch those PR folk, their inclination to spin the facts can sometimes cause people to see what's not there. Take for instance news released today that the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 both received top five-star side-impact safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. The release states that GM's GMT-900 pickups are now the only full-size pickups with five stars for side-impacts in the industry. This is true, but only because none of the other pickups have been rated yet. If you check the NHTSA's safercar.gov website, which hosts the crash test ratings for every vehicle tested, you'll find that the 2008 Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan are all listed as "Not Rated" when it comes to side-impact crash tests, and neither are models of each pickup from previous years. So while GM's claim is true, one shouldn't also assume its competition isn't just as safe in a side-impact crash until the NHTSA side-impact crash test proves otherwise.
View the full press release after the jump.
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE:
2008 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra 1500 Series Trucks Only Full-Size Pickups With Top Five-Star Side-Impact Safety Rating
DETROIT, Mich. - The 2008 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 Series pickup trucks have received the federal government's highest side-impact crash rating - five stars - making Silverado and Sierra the industry's only full-size pickups to earn this top rating.
Silverado and Sierra 1500 Series Regular Cab, Extended Cab and Crew Cab models all received the highest possible side-impact rating for models tested with and without available head curtain side-impact air bags. The Silverado and Sierra previously received the federal government's highest frontal crash test rating of five stars. Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov).
"Customers continue to rank safety higher on their lists for new vehicle purchases and that helped us make safety before, during, and after a crash among our chief priorities when we redesigned the all-new Silverado and Sierra pickups for the 2007 model year," said Gary A. White, GM vice president and vehicle line executive for full-size trucks.
"The industry-leading safety attributes of these pickups add to their well-deserved and longstanding reputation for dependability and durability, the hallmarks of a great pickup truck."
Silverado and Sierra deliver 360 degrees of crash protection through a stronger frame and body structure as well as industry- and segment-leading technology. They are also designed to provide increased compatibility with other vehicles. Features include segment-first StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation technology; available roof-mounted rollover-capable head curtain side air bags, which are integrated into strengthened chassis and body structures to provide excellent passenger protection; and segment-first safety belt pretensioners that activate during a rear impact. The rollover-capable head curtain side air bags are available on Silverado LT and LTZ and Sierra SLE and SLT models; they are standard on Sierra Denali models.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jeff the Baptist 12:45PM (9/26/2007)
For that matter, the various star ratings correlate poorly to actual crash performance in Pickups and SUVs.
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Lithous 12:50PM (9/26/2007)
Yes, and what about Hyundai's commercial something to the effect of:
How foreign is a company that makes most of their products here.
First of all, don't they own Kia? They did claim "company" and not division (as in the Hyundai division onlly) so I don't know if their claim is true. But say it is true that half their cars are made in the U.S. with that logic Apple is essentially a foreign company since probably all of their products are made outside the U.S., right?
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Alex 1:19PM (9/26/2007)
Begs the question, what is more important? Supporting the american built car, or supporting the american branded car?
Jason 1:37PM (9/26/2007)
Built in Mexico/Canada or built in the US, the American branded car companies still employ way more Americans than the import branded car companies that build cars in the US.
Justin 12:51PM (9/26/2007)
I think crash tests should start testing what happens to the "other" vehicle.
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psarhjinian 1:06PM (9/26/2007)
Personally, I'd like to see "if I was hit be a semi" tests, if for no other reason then the silence the folk who come out of the woodwork every time a small car is discussed, saying "well, I'd never by one in case I was hit by a semi".
If you're hit by a semi in anything up to--and possibly including--a tank, you're likely to be killed. Doesn't matter if your in a Smart car or a Suburban.
On this note, your best bet is probably the Saab 9-3. Crashes well according to both the NHTSA and IIHS, has good seat design, and has high accident avoidance ability.
Menice 1:08PM (9/26/2007)
damn man..... excellent thought.
J 9:28AM (9/27/2007)
yeah it always kind of disturbing when you go to junkyard and you realize how many people must have died in these cars. The worst is always the side impacted compacts. It isn't all that rare to see a door pushed all the way into the center of the car.
Kowell 1:06PM (9/26/2007)
Gotta love those PR people.... :)
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MIKE 1:23PM (9/26/2007)
those sneaky GM people
Kowell 2:58PM (9/26/2007)
Every PR person is sneaky.. it's what PR is.. :P
MoonRover 2:13PM (9/26/2007)
Not sneaky just good planning, and 5 stars is a good as it gets. Toyota only got 4 for the front test, so they will probably get 3 for the side impact. Way to go GM hit 'em again harder, harder, I've heard Toyota has a glass jaw.
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willem 2:18PM (9/26/2007)
... and Toy still makes rattle-trap crap. Silly traitors, real trucks are American.
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Guenther 11:31AM (9/27/2007)
Funny- at 120k, the only thing that rattles in my rundra is change in the ashtray. Fool...
Keith 3:26PM (9/26/2007)
Personally, I'd like to see "if I was hit be a semi" tests ...
RX330 - I interviewed a guy who was T-boned and walked out of the emergency room that night with a broken rib. So, there's one that passes the test!
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Keith Griffin 3:27PM (9/26/2007)
And for good measure he replaced it with an RX 400h, I should have added
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Keith Griffin 3:27PM (9/26/2007)
And for good measure he replaced it with an RX 400h, I should have added
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Go5Go 4:14PM (9/26/2007)
I'd like to see the "if hit by semi" tests too.. The Brit show, Braniacs might do something about that.. Maybe those Mythbusters can come up with something.. I hear they are running out of stuff..
Why does the NHTSA even release any data before all vehicles are rated? Hell don't even start the tests until all vehicles (for the segment/class) are in the garage!
But if you look at the overall data... The "safest" vehicle to be in is just your normal family sedan. Skip the little micro cars and the suv/trucks, their death rates are higher..
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SPG 7:20PM (9/26/2007)
Now I have another reason to like GM's new full size trucks.
I enjoy seeing them around and I don't have to look at horrible interiors and football field sized pannel gaps anymore like on the last generation GM trucks.
Not bad for a former GM hater (I really hated the hell outta GM).
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Bryan 11:38PM (9/26/2007)
Well this does not prove much except that they finally caught up to the now 5 year old F150. Of course we do not know the side impact rating of the Ford or anyone elses, but I assume the side is just as safe as the frontal in the F150. As for the rest, who knows?
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