US pick-up safety tested in Australia for the first time, but not how they perform in a crash

New Australian testing has shone a spotlight on how well the growing range of full-size US pick-ups can prevent a crash – but the jury remains out on what happens if a collision is unavoidable.

The safety performance of full-size US pick-ups sold in Australia from Ford, Chevrolet, Ram and Toyota – plus the latest Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series – has come under the scrutiny of crash-test organisation ANCAP for the first time.

However, the tests focus only on how well the pick-ups prevent a crash – using advanced safety technology – not how well they protect occupants in a collision, nor minimise injury for pedestrians and cyclists when struck.

ANCAP says the crash-avoidance tests, topped by the Ford F-150 – with the Chevrolet Silverado performing worst – address “community concern over the