Nissan Navarra vs. Ford Ranger

[Dr.Kamiya]

Thanks for the heads-up, but I'd still vote for something else. Most likely the new Strada, which looks good, rides good and has the best safety rating among the current crop of small pickups.

In the original test the Navara scored very low because of bad airbag deployment and frame intrusion. It looks like the software update helped fix the airbag deployment problem, but the fact remains if you crash the Navara there will be significant deformation and intrusion into the passenger cell.

From your own link:

However, the passenger compartment was again unstable which, combined with the chest compression measured by the dummy, led to protection of the driver's chest being rated as weak. Structures in the dashboard presented a risk of injury to the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger. There was extensive deformation of the driver's footwell and the car was penalised because the lower chassis rail punched a hole in the toeboard. Dummy readings indicated weak protection of the driver 's lower legs and rearward movement of the pedals led to protection of the feet and ankles being rated as poor.

[Dr.Kamiya]

this is europe based findings it differs from asian made navara..

AFAIK they're the same car. Chassis code is D40 on the EU model, exactly the same as what we're getting here all of the pointy bits that stuck into the euroncap dummy can well be pointed at a local Navara driver.

[kha]

[niky]

Thanks for the heads-up, but I'd still vote for something else. Most likely the new Strada, which looks good, rides good and has the best safety rating among the current crop of small pickups.

In the original test the Navara scored very low because of bad airbag deployment and frame intrusion. It looks like the software update helped fix the airbag deployment problem, but the fact remains if you crash the Navara there will be significant deformation and intrusion into the passenger cell.

From your own link:

This is why I love EuroNCAP testing results, because they evaluate and analyze structural deformation.

Given that many crashes you see on the road fail to deploy airbags because they don't meet airbag opening criteria (offset too high, impact is with a pole, etcetera), it's even more important to take into consideration structural deformation in a crash.

Airbags are a supplementary system. In other words, airbags help minimize injuries, but if the structure of the vehicle cannot withstand impact, they won't do crap.

The Strada, so far, is the only truck amongst those tested in the EuroNCAP to actually score decently with little body deformation compared to the other trucks tested.

No tests yet for the Hilux, though.