The Safest Pickup Trucks For 2016

2015 Chevrolet Colorado ・ Photo by Benjamin Hunting

With more pickup trucks being pressed into service as daily drivers, their safety has become a more significant consideration. Families are riding around in pickup trucks now so child restraints have also become more of an issue than in the past. To compile this list of the safest pickup trucks for 2016, we consulted NHTSA and the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s ratings. Among other things, we found cab style makes a considerable difference in how a truck ranks. On the whole, we found Crew Cab models consistently scored higher than their regular cab counterparts in both large and small trucks. BTW, to make comparisons easier, this list is configured so large trucks and small trucks are rated separately. Further, in both categories, the listings are ranked according to how they scored. In other words, the best performers are listed first; the worst performers are listed last.

Large Pickups: Ford F-150 Crew Cab

The only IIHS Top Safety Pick on the list of the safest pickup trucks for 2016, the Ford F-150 Crew Cab’s standard safety features include ABS, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front-seat side impact airbags, and full-length side-curtain airbags. Ford’s Sync system phones for help if an airbag deploys when a compatible cellular phone is paired. Optional safety features include rear- and multi-view cameras, as well as a rear parking sensor array. The new Ford F-150 also boasts forward collision warning and preparation, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alerts. Inflatable seatbelts are on the options list as well. The F-150 scored the top IIHS rating (“Good”) in front small overlap, front moderate overlap, and side impacts. It also scored “Good” in roof strength, as well as head restraints and seats. The F-150 Extended Cab tallied similarly in all but front small overlap testing in which it earned a “Marginal” rating. NHTSA awarded the F-150 five stars overall (its highest rating).

Large Pickups: Toyota Tundra Crew Cab

Toyota’s Tundra Crew Cab comes in at number two on the list of the safest pickup trucks for 2016. Standard safety features include ABS, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front knee airbags, front side-impact airbags, and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats. Tundra also features a rearview camera as standard equipment. The Toyota’s rear parking sensor array is optional, as is blind spot monitoring. NHTSA awarded Tundra four out of five stars for overall performance. The IIHS scored the Tundra “Good” in front moderate overlap and side impact testing. Roof strength, along with the head restraints and seats scored “Good” as well. The lack of available crash prevention technologies kept Tundra out of Top Safety pick running. Tundra’s child seat anchors were rated “Poor” in terms of ease of use.

Large Pickups: Nissan Titan Crew Cab

Holding down the number three position among the safest large pickup trucks for 2016 is the Nissan Titan Crew Cab. The roster of standard safety kit includes antilock disc brakes, stability control, traction control, front-seat side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags. Optional features include a rear parking sensor array and a rearview camera, which can be had on all but the lowest “S” trim level. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, the Titan Crew Cab scored “Good” in front moderate overlap testing. Titan’s roof strength clocked an “Acceptable” (the second highest IIHS rating). Titan’s head restraints and seats were judged as “Good” for their ability to provide protection. The Nissan Titan Crew Cab offers no accident prevention technologies.

Large Pickups: Ram 1500 Crew Cab

The RAM 1500 Crew Cab offers ABS, stability control, hill-start assist, trailer sway control, front-seat side airbags, and full-length side-curtain airbags. The Crew Cab Ram 1500 also offers an optional integrated trailer brake controller, a rear view camera, plus front and rear parking sensor arrays. One of the safest pickup trucks for 2016, the Ram’s optional Uconnect system will phone for emergency assistance at the touch of a single button. It also provides a way for law enforcement to track the truck if it’s ever stolen. NHTSA says the Ram is a four-star truck in terms of crash protection. The IIHS awarded the Ram a “Good” rating in front moderate overlap crashes. The pickup scored “Marginal” (the next to lowest score) in roof strength, but “Good” for the head restraints and seats. Ram 1500 Crew Cab’s child seat anchors were rated “Marginal” in terms of ease of use

Large Pickups – Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

Every Chevrolet Silverado trim level—save the Work Truck—comes with OnStar as standard equipment. This gives the Silverado automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, and stolen vehicle tracking and slow-down. Silverado’s optional safety gear includes a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensor arrays, lane departure, and collision warning systems. NHTSA says the Silverado is five-star worthy overall, while the IIHS concurs in terms of front moderate overlap crashes. In the other areas, a lack of data keeps the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab from being named a Top Safety Pick. However, given the five-star overall NHTSA rating, Silverado would probably qualify with more testing. Also standard on Silverado are antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, front and rear seat side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Silverado’s child seat anchors were rated “Poor” in terms of ease of use.

Large Pickups: GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab

Essentially the same truck, the GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab offers the same protective equipment as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab. Standard features include antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, front and rear seat side airbags, and side curtain airbags. On the Sierra, OnStar is standard across the board, so they all get automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, as well as stolen vehicle tracking and slow-down. Optional safety gear includes a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensor arrays, lane departure, and collision warning systems. NHTSA says the Sierra 1500 Crew Cab is five-star worthy overall, while the IIHS concurs in terms of front moderate overlap crashes. However, like Silverado, in the other key areas, a lack of data keeps the Sierra from being named a Top Safety Pick. However, given the five-star overall NHTSA rating, it would probably qualify with more testing. Sierra’s child seat anchors were also rated “Poor” in terms of ease of use.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Small Pickups: Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

Among small pickups, the IIHS says Nissan’s Frontier Crew Cab is number one among the safest pickup trucks for 2016. Standard safety features include antilock disc brakes, stability control, front seat side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags. A brake-activated limited slip differential is standard as well. Optionally available on many Frontier models is a rear parking sensor array and a rearview camera. NHTSA has yet to subject the Frontier to scoring, but the IIHS awarded the Frontier a “Good” ranking in front moderate overlap, side, and roof strength testing. The Frontier Crew Cab earned an “Acceptable” ranking for its head restraints and seats. As regards ease of use, the Frontier’s child seat anchors were designated “Marginal”.

Photo by Nissan

Small Pickups: Toyota Tacoma Double (Crew) Cab

An all-new Tacoma is bowing for the 2016 model year and thus has yet to be tested. However, the 2015 model earned four out of five stars overall in NHTSA testing. The Crew Cab Tacoma racked up three out of five stars in frontal crash impact protection and five stars in side crash protection. The IIHS awarded the Tacoma Double Cab a “Good” ranking in both front moderate overlap and side testing. Roof strength was considered “Marginal”, while the head restraints and seats were scored ‘Good”. Standard safety kit includes antilock brakes (though it should be noted the Frontier uses drum brakes at the rear). Frontier is also equipped with brake assist and stability control. The airbag contingent includes front-seat side impact and full-length side-curtain. Tacoma’s head restraints are active, and a rear view camera is offered as an option.

Small Pickups: Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon Crew Cab

Chevrolet’s Colorado and GMC’s Canyon were all-new for the 2015 model year. Cutting edge crash prevention technologies fitted to the mid-size General Motors pickups include forward collision and lane departure warning systems, which are offered as optional equipment. GM’s OnStar telematics suite is standard on the upper trim levels, and optional on others. OnStar fits these two of the safest pickup trucks for 2016 with automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, and remote door unlocking—as well as stolen vehicle tracking and slow-down. Standard kit includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front seat side impact airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, and a rearview camera. The IIHS awarded Colorado and Canyon “Good” ratings in front moderate overlap crash protection. Lack of testing in the other areas likely prevented both models from being considered top safety picks. NHTSA awarded the duo four out of five stars in overall crash protection. They scored four stars in frontal tests, five in side.