Oh no, the incredibly popular Toyota Tacoma is struggling against rivals in one significant area to consider. The old 2022 Toyota Tacoma can’t keep up with options like the Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, and Honda Ridgeline regarding safety. 

How safe is the 2022 Toyota Tacoma? 

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma is moderately safe. It can protect drivers and passengers, just not as well as the competition. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), the Tacoma falls behind its rivals. 

An updated side crash simulation revealed that the GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline, and Chevy Colorado each got a good score during this test. The Nissan Frontier and Ford Ranger received acceptable ratings. But the Toyota Tacoma is at the back of the pack with a marginal score. 

The original test involved a 3,300 lb barrier striking the trucks at 31 mph, but the updated test uses a 4,200 lb barrier at 37 mph. This simulates an SUV striking the side of the truck. 

IIHS Senior Research engineer Becky Mueller shared that overall there was a solid performance from each vehicle. The tall ride height means that the barrier used for striking vehicles hits strong door sill structures directly. 

This could be responsible for preventing excessive intrusion into the compartment, except for the 2022 Tacoma. 

Why are other trucks safer than the 2022 Tacoma? 

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma is a little dated. The current generation debuted in 2016 before these safety test updates were created. 

Modern trucks have the structure and safety cage built in to protect occupants from injuries. According to the test results, the 2022 Nissan Frontiers’ occupant compartment held up the best. 

The occupant compartment in the Ford Ranger was maintained relatively well. However, the C-pillar struck through the side curtain airbag and hit the rear passenger dummy’s heads in the Frontier and Ranger. 

While the test presented a minimal risk of most injuries for the Toyota Tacoma, the structure and safety cage weren’t maintained well during the test. For example, the striking barrier crushed the door sill and the B-pillar. 

This resulted in the pillar being pushed toward the center of the driver’s seat. Mueller explained that it’s what pushed the rating down to marginal because structural performance is tied heavily to survivability. 

Will the new Tacoma be safer? 

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma isn’t exactly dangerous. It’s just a little dated. But the next-generation Toyota Tacoma is expected to receive modern updates that comply with increasing safety standards. 

It could follow in the tracks of the 2022 Toyota Tundra, which serves as the safest full-size truck. The 2024 Toyota Tacoma could ride on a new TNGA-K platform like the Tundra and new Sequoia, with a coil-spring rear suspension. 

The new setup could account for the added weight of a more robust safety cage structure. Plus, there are tons of rumors about a new hybrid engine and possibly a PHEV setup. The updated TRD Pro model could rival the new Ford Ranger Raptor model. 

New safety testing could occur a few months after the next Tacoma arrives as a 2024 model. Until then, stay tuned for the latest updates.