2021 Nissan Titan Loses Ground In IIHS Crash Test

Credit: IIHS.

New crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are out for the 2021 Nissan TITAN and the IIHS says the pickup�s crew cab and extended cab variants earn lower ratings than its predecessor in the passenger-side small overlap test, following changes to the TITANs structure.

Passenger-Side Test Rating Falls

The IIHS says the 2019 TITAN crew cab earned a good rating in all six of its crashworthiness evaluations. But the 2021 model earns an acceptable passenger-side rating due to increased intrusion into the front seat passenger�s space. IIHS says the rating also applies to the 2021 Titan extended cab. [Note: 2020 models were not rated for passenger-side small overlap protection.]

In 2020, Nissan made changes to the front frame structure, hinge pillar, roof rail and lower sill of both pickups and added driver-side knee airbags. The IIHSA says that beginning with 2021 models built after September 2020, the company also added passenger-side knee airbags, so these ratings apply to vehicles built after that date.

Headlight Ratings Fall

The new 2021 TITAN also fell short in the headlight department compared with the 2019 model. The IIHS says 2021 Titans also earn lower headlight ratings than the 2019 models. Both variations offered on the pickups earn poor ratings, compared with earlier scores of marginal.

Crash Prevention Tech Earns Superior Ratings

Some good news, though, to report on the TITANs crash assistance technology side. The new TITANS standard front crash prevention that earns superior ratings in the Institute�s vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. The IIHS says both the crew cab and extended cab pickups avoided collisions at 12 mph and 25 mph in the vehicle-to-vehicle test and avoided hitting the dummy or slowed to a near stop in all the pedestrian scenarios, including the often challenging 37 mph trial that simulates an adult walking in the travel lane in the same direction as the vehicle. Researchers say these ratings apply to both 2020 and 2021 models. [Note: No front crash prevention was available on earlier models.]