Looks like in their effort to have the biggest and most powerful truck, Toyota missed their mark on safety. The Tundra was rated the lowest of all full size trucks in frontal crash test ratings.
Although it's not shown in the comparative graphs, the 2007 Nissan Titan was given a five star frontal crash test rating for driver safety and four stars for passenger safety. The same score was achieved in both King Cab and Crew Cab versions.
In what may turn out to be a significant marketing and sales blow to the biggest vehicle launch in Toyota's history, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released its frontal impact crash test ratings for the new 2007 Tundra full size pickup - only four out of five stars for driver and passenger safety. NHTSA tested the Regular and Double Cab versions of the Tundra, with the same four star results.
In the same test, the all new 2007 Chevrolet Silverado scored five out of five stars, matching the same five star scores previously earned by the current Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram 1500 pickups for driver and front passenger safety in a frontal impact.
1) Base models being priced $2,000 more than comparable domestic truck. . . .
2) Lower fuel economy relative to the new GM offerings. . . .
3) $1000-$1500 rebates on base model trucks, already. . . .
4) Lowest crash test rating of any full sized truck. . . . .
It's not shaping up to be well executed launch of a critical vehicle for Toyota. That being said, 4-stars still isn't bad.
I agree; 4 out of 5 star isn't bad. Now if it were 3 or lower I would be worried. As for pricing, the base Tundra with a V6 is way overpriced at 22+ grand. I mean when you are trying to penetrate a market that the domestics already rules, you try to price your truck lower than the competition by a grand or two and not the other way around. The March sales figure would be a good indication as to how the truck is selling. Although my dealer was telling me that the 5.7L engine is in pretty good demand
I completely agree, 4 out of 5 is a very good rating. The 99-07 classic Silverados only had a 4 star for driver and 3 star for passenger. GM really stepped up to the plate finally for safety.
What's disappointing in the new Tundra is that the previous gen Tundras (if I'm remembering correctly) were 5 star rated trucks.
Also, the Titan, Ram, and F-150 are all 5 star rated and have been out for several years now.
Also, like has been stated, they want to compete with the big boys, they need to meet or exceed ALL criteria to take market share. Last months sales #'s did not look promising. We'll have to see what March sales and future sales #'s hold.
I completely agree, 4 out of 5 is a very good rating. The 99-07 classic Silverados only had a 4 star for driver and 3 star for passenger. GM really stepped up to the plate finally for safety.
What's disappointing in the new Tundra is that the previous gen Tundras (if I'm remembering correctly) were 5 star rated trucks.
Also, the Titan, Ram, and F-150 are all 5 star rated and have been out for several years now.
Also, like has been stated, they want to compete with the big boys, they need to meet or exceed ALL criteria to take market share. Last months sales #'s did not look promising. We'll have to see what March sales and future sales #'s hold.
1) Base models being priced $2,000 more than comparable domestic truck. . . .
2) Lower fuel economy relative to the new GM offerings. . . .
3) $1000-$1500 rebates on base model trucks, already. . . .
4) Lowest crash test rating of any full sized truck. . . . .
It's not shaping up to be well executed launch of a critical vehicle for Toyota. That being said, 4-stars still isn't bad.
I dont know the fuel economy thing has been a bit vague, since most "real-world" tests conducted by Car & Driver, Edmunds, or Motortrend are showing that the Silverado is most likely to get lower than their stated fuel economy, while the Toyota is consistently getting pretty close to its ratings. Considering that it is offering the most powerful engine, i would say that it leads the bunch.
I guess we will have to wait until both Trucks are retested using the new EPA tests coming out for 2008 since maybe the current test favors the DOD on the GM engines.
While the Tundra base truck pricing has been a controversial topic maybe they are tryin to prevent it from stealing sales from the Tacoma, and offering rebates from the begining is not a bad strategy becuz the Truck market is known for the rebates, all it does is bring the pricing down to the competition, while still letting Toyota take the same profit. Good Idea
I have to disagree with all of you: 4 stars at NHTSA is nothing short of terrible. There are vehicles in that test that score perfect 5's while Euroncap shows that they are death traps on wheels (the worst example being the latest Chevrolet Aveo). For Toyota to fail at safety for one of the most significant vehicles that it launches in the largest marked is almost unbelievable. Toyota knows exactly how these tests are conducted. There is simply no excuse. The front crumbles way too little so the impact is hard for the occupants - and the vehicle that it might hit in an accident.
Toyota will fix this, and if you look at the photos, the front truck has held up pretty well, so it could have to do with the dummy hitting a C pillar or airbag related.
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1994 Toyota Pickup Xtra cab 4x2 22R-E 44,000 mi
1998 Toyota Avalon 1MZ-FE 137,000 mi
2005 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab 49,000 mi
2006 BMW 330i Sedan 85,000 mi
2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid 2AZ-FXE 62,000 mi
I have to disagree with all of you: 4 stars at NHTSA is nothing short of terrible. There are vehicles in that test that score perfect 5's while Euroncap shows that they are death traps on wheels (the worst example being the latest Chevrolet Aveo). For Toyota to fail at safety for one of the most significant vehicles that it launches in the largest marked is almost unbelievable. Toyota knows exactly how these tests are conducted. There is simply no excuse. The front crumbles way too little so the impact is hard for the occupants - and the vehicle that it might hit in an accident.
I'm disappointed.
Let's wait to see the tougher IIHS offset front crash, which is similar to Euroncap front crash test. The last gen Tundra got 4 stars only in NHTSA test, but got Great in IIHS crash test. For comparison, the last gen Silverado got poor in IIHS test, but got 4stars in NHTSA test.
Actually, many latest German models may get 5stars in Eurocap front crash test, but got 4 stars in NHTSA front crash test.
What's disappointing in the new Tundra is that the previous gen Tundras (if I'm remembering correctly) were 5 star rated trucks.
That's not entirely correct. At its debut in fall of 1999, the Tundra scored a mediocre 3 star rating. After 2 or 3 years it jumped to 4 stars, then at its mid-cycle refresh in 2005, it garnered a 4 star driver rating, 5 star passenger rating, and 5 star side impact rating. The rollover rating was 3 stars for the years tested.
I find it interesting that the Tacoma, with the same type of "Triple-Tech" frame design, fares better than the Tundra with an all around 5 star rating and IIHS best pick. The engineers are probably working overtime right now.
That's not entirely correct. At its debut in fall of 1999, the Tundra scored a mediocre 3 star rating. After 2 or 3 years it jumped to 4 stars, then at its mid-cycle refresh in 2005, it garnered a 4 star driver rating, 5 star passenger rating, and 5 star side impact rating. The rollover rating was 3 stars for the years tested.
I find it interesting that the Tacoma, with the same type of "Triple-Tech" frame design, fares better than the Tundra with an all around 5 star rating and IIHS best pick. The engineers are probably working overtime right now.
As for pricing, the base Tundra with a V6 is way overpriced at 22+ grand. I mean when you are trying to penetrate a market that the domestics already rules, you try to price your truck lower than the competition by a grand or two and not the other way around.
yeah they don't know what they're doing, right? the camry is overpriced compared to the domestics, for example, and its not working out them either, nobody's buying them
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