Least and Most Safe Midsize Pickup Trucks for 2019 (Video)

There are some surprises on this list.

We rank all of the latest 2019 midsize pickup trucks from the most to the least safe, according to the results of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests and evaluation.

All images, clips, and data you see here are provided by the IIHS.

Here is a quick description of all the tests and evaluations that IIHS performs on every vehicle they test. The tests are: frontal crash small and moderate overlap, side crash, roof strength press, head restraint and seat evaluation, headlight testing, front crash prevention technology; and child seat anchor evaluation. We made quick abbreviations for each test you can see below in parenthesis.

  • Small overlap front: driver side (SOD)
  • Small overlap front: passenger side (SOP)
  • Moderate overlap front: driver side (MOD)
  • Side (SIDE)
  • Roof strength (ROOF)
  • Head restraints & seats (HRS)
  • Headlights (Headlights)
  • Front Crash Prevention (FCP)
  • Child seat anchors (CSA)

The scale: P – Poor, M – Marginal, A – Acceptable, and G – Good.

5. Nissan Frontier

  • SOD = M, but structure = P, and lower leg = P; 
  • SOP = M, but lower leg = P; 
  • MOD = G, leg/foot = M; 
  • Side = G; 
  • Roof = G (curb: 4,224 lbs, 4.85 times -> 20,487 lbs)
  • HRS = A, 
  • Headlights = P, IIHS says “On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.”
  • FCP: Not Available
  • CSA = M. 2 positions with lower seat anchors, 3rd position is a tether.

4. Chevy Colorado / GMC Canyon

  • SOD = G, but structure = A;
  • SOP = M, structure = P and lower leg = M;
  • MOD = G, 
  • Side = G, 
  • Roof = G (curb: 4,162 lbs -> 5.16 times = 21,460 lbs), 
  • HRS = G,
  • Headlights = P. IIHS says : “On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.”
  • FCP: Basic. Auto-brake is not available.
  • CSA = M. 2 positions with lower seat anchors, 3rd position is a tether.

3. Toyota Tacoma

Again, the safety ratings you see here are for a 2019 model Toyota Tacoma. Toyota has updated their headlights for the 2020 model year, but that truck has not yet been tested.

  • SOD = G, but lower leg = A; 
  • SOP = A, but lower leg = Poor; 
  • MOD = G, but head/neck = A;
  • SIDE = G, but torso = A;
  • Roof = G (curb: 4,170 lbs -> 4.13 times = 17,213 lbs),  
  • HRS = G, 
  • Headlights = M, IIHS says: “On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.”
  • FCP: Superior. Forward collision warning meets standard. 12 mph and 25 mph collision avoidance
  • CSA = M, 2 positions with lower seat anchors, 3rd position is a tether. 

2. Ford Ranger

  • SOD = G, but lower leg = M;
  • SOP = A, structure = A and lower leg = M;
  • MOD = G; 
  • Side = G, but driver torso rating = Acceptable; 
  • Roof = G (curb: 4,212 lbs, 4.79 times -> 20,187 lbs). 
  • HRS = G; 
  • Headlights = M, IIHS says. “On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.”
  • FCP:  crash prevention = Superior, forward collision warning meets standard. 12 mph and 25 mph collision avoidance.
  • CSA = A. 2 positions have LATCH hardware, third position is tether only.

1. Honda Ridgeline (Most Safe)

  • SOD = G;
  • SOP = A, but structure = M and lower leg = M; 
  • MOD = G; 
  • Side = G; 
  • Roof = G (curb: 4,216 lbs, 5.62 times – > 23,697 lbs); 
  • HRS = G;
  • Headlights = G (RTL-E and Black edition), IIHS says. “On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves, and inadequate on the gradual left curve.”
  • FCP: crash prevention = Superior; forward collision warning meets standard. 12 mph and 25 mph collision avoidance
  • CSA = A, all 3 rear seats have LATCH hardware.

Here is the entire 2019 midsize truck safety overview video.