Used Chevy Colorado: Capable and Safe

A truck is more than a vehicle to its owner. Odds are, you’re not just buying something to drive around in and take groceries or the occasional couch back and forth. No. You’re buying a truck because you need a partner. A partner that’s going to work just as hard as you are, and one that won’t quit on you when push comes to shove. 

You need a truck that not only works with you but also for you, keeping you safe in the event the worst happens. That’s why you’ll be pleased to know that the new Chevrolet Colorado crew cab earned a coveted “Good” rating in all categories of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s independent crash tests, making it one of the safest trucks you can take out onto the road.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety employs a more rigorous and demanding battery of tests than the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does. The IIHS uses five tests to rate the overall safety of a vehicle: a moderate frontal overlap test, a small frontal overlap test, a side impact test, a roof strength test, and a test of the head restraints and seats. 

As these tests were designed with research on years and years of real-world crashes, they much more closely replicate the common conditions of accidents than the relatively simple tests the NHTSA performs.

Frontal Overlap Test

The frontal overlap tests are two of the most important tests the IIHS performs. By only subjecting a percentage of the front end of the car to a crash, it tests the structural integrity much more stringently than the complete front end crash test the government uses. 

It also more closely mirrors the results of front end crashes, as only very rarely do crashes occur along the entire width of the front end. As small overlap crashes, alone, account for roughly a quarter of injuries and deaths from all front impacts, good performance in this test is crucial to the safety of the vehicle. 

The mid-size Chevrolet Colorado not only received a “Good” rating, it also performed much better in the small frontal overlap than many larger pickup models. 

Side Crash Test

The IIHS side crash test is also performed in a different fashion than the NHTSA. Instead of simulating the impact to the side with a force that is relatively low to the ground, like a passenger car, the IIHS uses an impact from higher up. This approximates an impact from a truck or SUV, which make up a significant portion of all new vehicles sold. 

The higher impact also targets a weaker section of the vehicle’s frame, making it a much more demanding test and a better indicator of the strength of the tested vehicle. 

Roof Strength Test

As vehicle rollovers account for another significant source of fatalities and serious injuries in accidents, the roof strength test is important. By earning a “Good” rating on this test, the Used Chevy Colorado has proved that its roof can resist a force of over four times its own weight before crumpling, meaning that a rollover is unlikely to cave in the roof. 

The head restraint test also mimics a rear-end collision, determining its effectiveness in preventing whiplash and other neck injuries.

For more information on the Used Chevy Colorado or other Chevrolet cars, including pricing, options, trim, and availability, please contact Community Used Chevy of Spencer. Our staff and dealership are well trained and eager to handle all Spencer Chevrolet needs.