2022 GMC Canyon Gets Good Rating In New IIHS Side Crash Test

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently released side crash test results for six small pickup models, including the 2022 GMC Canyon. The results indicate that the GMC Canyon crew cab earned a “Good” rating in nearly all of the safety measures tested.

The IIHS developed an updated side crash test after finding that many of the real-world side impacts that account for almost a quarter of passenger vehicle fatalities were in fact more severe than the original test. As such, the new test incorporates a heavier barrier traveling at a higher speed, with the barrier now weighing 4,200 pounds and traveling at 37 mph, as compared to the 3,300-pound barrier and 31-mph speed used previously.

In the updated test, the 2022 GMC Canyon was given a top “Good” overall rating, as well as “Good” ratings in three of the driver injury measures (head and neck injury, torso, driver head protection) and “Good” ratings in all four rear passenger injury measures (head and neck, torso, pelvis, rear passenger head protection). The Canyon also earned an “Acceptable” rating in the pelvis driver injury measure, as well as the structure and safety cage evaluation.

To note, IIHS testing results in four possible ratings – “Good,” “Acceptable,” “Marginal,” and “Poor.”

The latest side impact test results also included ratings for the Chevy Colorado, Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, and Toyota Tacoma. The Chevy Colorado and Honda Ridgeline both scored a “Good” overall rating, while the Nissan Frontier and Ford Ranger both scored an “Acceptable” overall rating. The Toyota Tacoma scored a “Marginal” overall rating.

“Overall, this was a solid performance from these vehicles,” said IIHS Senior Research Engineer Becky Mueller. “Their high ride height means that the barrier we use to represent a striking vehicle hits the strong door sill structures directly. This likely prevented excessive intrusion into the occupant compartment, except in the case of the Tacoma.”

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Source: IIHS