Still think big, muscular trucks equal safety? In the case of the new Dodge Ram, Nissan Titan and Chevy Silverado, not necessarily. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety smashed up the four-door versions of those full-size trucks and, for the most part, found their safety credentials less than stellar.

Let's start with the worst performing of the three. The IIHS says that in its latest round of side-impact crash tests, Chevy's Silverado 1500 gets a Poor rating. Even with the optional side airbags, the Chevy got a Poor. That struck us as odd, so we asked Russ Rader, director of media relations at IIHS, why the truck got a 5-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He said it was a combination of a difference in test methods as well as vehicle construction.

"The difference reflects the difference between being hit by a car vs. being hit by another pickup or SUV," Rader said. "The car-like barrier in the government test hits the strong parts of the side structure at rocker panel level, below the test dummy. The Institute's test barrier is taller and higher off the ground, so it's hitting more vulnerable parts of the door."

The Titan also received a Poor side-crash rating from IIHS, but with the optional side airbags improved to Marginal. Dodge's new Ram with standard bags got a marginal side crash rating. We'd be remiss not to mention that the 2009 Ford F-150 and 2009 Toyota Tundra both were already chosen as Top Safety Picks by the IIHS......

Silverado, Ram and Titan hit hard by IIHS side-impact crash test - Autoblog

 

I found it quite interesting that the NHTSA issued five stars for their crash tests but the IIHS came out with something completely different and how the two organizations conduct their tests differently.

What do you all make of the performance of the aformentioned trucks?

 

I'd still rather be in one of them instead of a SmartCar.

 

here is the article over at CNN
Big trucks 'wimpy' in crash tests - Striking results (1) - CNNMoney.com

I think the IIHS is a much more reliable and accurate test based on modern conditions. Plus there test is directly conducted to allow insurance companies to determine risk of loss for each vehicle.... My liability Jumped by $100 compared to my Audi Allroad, but collision coverage cost dropped even though the Excursion is valued at more than the allroad.... good to see Ford has been doing their homework though.... Maybe its another reason Ford is the only one of the big 3 not to take the bailout money

 

Nice, and yeah ford didint take bailout money, so nobody can diss ford.