According to new testing, small pickup trucks aren't offering much in the way of protection in side crashes.

In testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Toyota Tacoma was the only one of five small pickup trucks, all 2008 models, to earn the highest rating of good for occupant protection.

The Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier are rated marginal, and the Chevrolet Colorado is rated poor in the side test, which simulates a side impact from an SUV or another pickup. The Colorado -- also sold as as the GMC Canyon -- was the worst performer of the testing.

"More people may be looking at small pickups because of rising gas prices," said IIHS president Adrian Lund. "Unfortunately, they won't find many that afford state-of-the-art crash protection. Most earn dismal ratings for protecting people in side crashes, and all but the Tacoma and Frontier lack electronic stability control, which is a key feature in preventing crashes."

Until they improve, most small pickups aren't good choices for people looking for safe transportation."

The Tacoma was the only truck to earn a good rating in the side crash test. Lund said the Tacoma's side airbags did a good job of reducing forces on the driver dummy and the passenger dummy in the back seat in the test.

The Tacoma also is rated good for frontal crash protection, but its seat/head restraints earn the second lowest rating of marginal for protection against whiplash in rear-end crashes.

The IIHS said that If Toyota improves the Tacoma's rear crash rating, the manufacturer would have the only two pickup models to earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick award so far. The other is Toyota's Tundra, a large pickup truck.

The Tacoma is the only pickup in the group of small models that was tested with side airbags, which are optional in 2008 models. When side airbags are optional, the Institute's policy is to test a vehicle without the option. An auto manufacturer may request a second test with the airbags if the automaker reimburses the Institute for the cost of the vehicle.

Manufacturers of the Dakota, Frontier, and Colorado didn't request second tests (side airbags aren't offered in the Ranger, even as options). The Tacoma was tested only with its optional side airbags, an exception to normal policy because such airbags will be standard in 2009 Tacoma pickups being shipped to dealers this month.

"We assume the other manufacturers don't expect their vehicles to perform much better, even with the optional side airbags," Lund said. "In contrast, Toyota is ahead of its competitors in making the latest safety equipment standard on small pickups. Consumers shouldn't have to choose safety from an options list, and they shouldn't buy any vehicle that isn't equipped with side airbags and electronic stability control."

In 2008 side airbags are standard in more than 65 percent of new vehicle models, and manufacturers have pledged to make such airbags standard across their fleets by the 2010 model year. A federal side impact standard that essentially will require side airbags goes into effect in the 2015 model year.

Pickup Death Rates High

Small pickup trucks have the highest driver death rates of any vehicles on the road, including minicars. In 2006 small pickups experienced 116 driver deaths per million registered vehicles 1 to 3 years old. This compares with 106 for minicars, 99 for small cars, and 42 for small SUVs. Part of the reason is that small pickup trucks are more likely than other passenger vehicles to be involved in single-vehicle crashes, especially rollovers.

Electronic stability control is a feature that can help prevent crashes, but it's not available on many pickups. It's standard on 12 percent of 2008 pickups, and it's not available at all on 67 percent. In contrast it's standard on 64 percent of cars and 95 percent of SUVs. The only pickups in this group of small models with available electronic stability control are the Tacoma and Frontier. Toyota has made this feature standard on the Tacoma starting with 2009 models. It's also standard on the 2009 Colorado and GMC Canyon.

"We would expect electronic stability control to significantly reduce the single-vehicle crash risk in small pickups," Lund said. "It's a lifesaving feature that should be standard on all of these vehicles."