Quote Originally Posted by Dr.Kamiya View Post
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.