You win some, you lose some. For Fiat Chrysler, the new Ram 1500 represents more of a win, both in terms of quality, drive experience, and especially crash ratings, which just rolled in from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The previous-generation 1500 lost marks in two areas: driver-side small-overlap front impacts (a weakness it shares with FCA’s rear-drive passenger cars) and roof strength. Both of these tests earned the 2018 1500 a “marginal” rating from the IIHS, sinking its overall score. FCA engineers clearly did their homework — the new truck aced all crash tests. Too bad about those peepers, though.
Announced Thursday, the 2019 Ram 1500 relegates those marginal ratings to the past, scoring a “good” rating in all six IIHS crash tests.
“The new Ram 1500 also earns a good rating in the passenger-side small overlap test,” the IIHS said. “The previous version hadn’t been tested for passenger-side protection. Both small overlap ratings apply to trucks built after July, when the cab mounts to the vehicle frame were improved.”
The previous-gen Ram showed its age when stacked up against competing domestic pickups; its roof strength was the worst tested in its segment. Now there’s accolades all around, and the institute provided a further nod for Ram’s optional front crash prevention system. “In IIHS track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph, the vehicle avoided a crash,” the institute stated.
Unfortunately for FCA, engineers didn’t work magic on the Ram’s headlights, which earn the same marginal rating as last year’s model. This keeps the new 1500 out of the running for the highly marketable IIHS Top Safety Pick award. (It’s certainly not alone in the foiled-by-lights camp — headlamp performance is generally quite bad. Maybe proposed changes to federal rules will help things.)
For a back-to-back comparison of old and new Ram 1500 generations, here’s the tests for your viewing enjoyment.
[Images: IIHS]
Which headlights- the base halogens, the LED reflectors, and/or the LED projectors? I see they crashed tested the base halogens, is that the only headlights they scored?
This. The only reason I clicked on this article was to find out which headlights were tested
LED Projectors: P(oor), rest: M(arginal)
So many cars today seem to have headlights that completely blind you with glare when oncoming. I know the IIHS tests both the impact to drivers and oncoming traffic. So much feckin’ glare.
There has been a good bit of bitchin on TTAC about headlight & glare.
I didnt really warm up to the conversation.
Well, last night I was driving back from VANCE Alabama. The last 30 miles were GA back roads.
WOW ! 1 of 4 or 1 of 5 cars had blasting headlights. There were high beams, mis alignments, retina burners from the factory, after market bright lights, I m so cool with my LED light bar and so on.
Real big deal. Real bad.
Thank you IIHS, for testing headlights and assigning weight to them in your ratings. It seems all modern vehicles are now blinding.
I think windshield wiper effectiveness would be a good additional test.
Agreed!!!
Did they test all the cab configurations? Or is Ram pulling a Ford, and just strengthening the Crew Cab it provides for testing?
I have to think both the crew and regular cab were stiffened, since it’s a new front end design, and the bulk of the needed crush zone measures are in front of the windshield. If I’m not mistaken, both cabs are off the same assembly line. It’s cheaper that way, while Ford had to do something mid-cycle with its most popular model.
The same test that Volvo aced with its 10 year old design back then? (Although passenger side was not tested,but still…)
VERY impressive there FCA….
What’s that supposed to mean? Ram meets most stringent current standards. What more do you want?
Ram accomplished this in one year, while the Toyota 4-Runner has had bad crash results for many years and nothing has been done. Same with Tundra, and now the Sienna has been found lacking. What is Toyota thinking?