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GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado Earn “Good” Crashworthiness Test Scores from IIHS

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The 2017 GMC Canyon has a starting MSRP of less than $21,000

The GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado were two of four mid-size pickup trucks to earn overall ratings of “Good” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in its five crashworthiness tests: moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints.

“This group of small pickups performed better in the small overlap front test than many of their larger pickup cousins,” said David Zuby, IIHS’s executive vice president and chief research officer.

Because both the Canyon and the Colorado lack an “Advanced” or “Superior” front crash prevention system (both are offered with optional forward collision warning, which is considered “basic” in the same way someone ordering a pumpkin space latte might also be) or headlights that meet the IIHS’s rigorous safety criteria, neither earned the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+. The Canyon and Colorado earned “Poor” ratings for their halogen headlamps due to excessive glare from low beams and inadequate visibility around gradual left curves and sharp left and right curves.

“Headlights are basic but vital safety equipment. Drivers shouldn’t have to give up the ability to see the road at night when they choose a small pickup,” Zuby added.

For the 2017 model year, the Canyon and Colorado—which share a common platform—saw reinforcements made to the A-pillar, lower door hinge pillar, and door sill in order to perform better in small overlap front testing. This paid off as both scored “Good” scores in restraints and kinematics; head and neck; chest; hip and thigh; and lower leg and foot injury prevention. Both scored ratings of “Acceptable” in terms of structure.

Both trucks earned “Good” test scores in every facet of the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints and seats tests.