How much safer is a new car with side airbags compared to a 100 without?

[Jack90210]

It's more than just side airbags. In 2009, FMVSS required roof crush resistant standards of 1.5 times the vehicle's weight (for vehicles with a GVWR 6k-10k lbs and 3x the weight for vehicles less than 6k lbs). The 200 meets those standards, the 100 likely does not, the 80 surely does not.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/05/12/E9-10431/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-roof-crush-resistance-phase-in-reporting-requirements

EXACTLY THIS, thank you.

Ask an emergency responder what it's like to have to cut through boron steel A-pillars, and what they'd choose to put their kids in; they'll probably say that a modern unibody SUV, with its high-strength steel roof pillars and cabin structure, is the safest vehicle that they see on the road.

IMO the Achilles heels of the 100 series are propensity to rollover and lack of roof structure strength compared to a contemporary vehicle.

For a recent example of the cabin integrity of today's vehicles, check out this article/photos of a 2021 Bronco that rolled 400 feet off of the side of Black Bear Pass. Engine ejected and crumple zones destroyed, yet cabin integrity is substantially intact.

 

[Exiled]

I've survived two rollover accidents in Land Cruisers and feel very safe in my 100s. So much so that it's the only vehicle that I let my 17-yr old drive.

Now, if the boss lady has her heart set on a 200, I'm supportive of that too, we have a 2016 200 and the two 100s. Prior to the 200 she had a 2004 100 that I deeply regret selling. My advice? Don't sell the 100!

 

[Bisho]

I've personally never seen a 100 roll over with a crushed roof, and there are quite a few every year that show up in part outs.

I saw this today, which is pretty good testament to the 100.

 

[ShenValley100LC]

I've survived two rollover accidents in Land Cruisers and feel very safe in my 100s. So much so that it's the only vehicle that I let my 17-yr old drive.

Now, if the boss lady has her heart set on a 200, I'm supportive of that too, we have a 2016 200 and the two 100s. Prior to the 200 she had a 2004 100 that I deeply regret selling. My advice? Don't sell the 100!

What he said. There is a ton obviously that goes into this calculation of how safe a car you want but you should start with this: the 100 is a safe vehicle, not unsafe. If you got a 200 you would be going from a safe vehicle to a safer vehicle, but marginally how much safer is pretty hard to say. For young kids a car seat with side impact headrest and harness would be a bigger factor.