The Smart car is actually quite safe. You can search YouTube for videos of it. It actually did pretty good against bigger cars, including the Mercedes S-class which weighs more than the 4runner. The Smart car is basically removable plastic around a solid steel shell consisting of high-tensile steel. The shell goes all around it...so, if it did well on a frontal crash, then it will likely do well in a rear crash. Everything on the Smart is designed to be a crush zone, including it's tires. (Hopefully, the passengers are not part of the crush zone!)
Would i ever buy the Smart?? Hell no. Too many compromises to practicality. Instead, i would rather get the 2009 Honda Fit or even the Scion xB.
Although the 4runner is a great SUV with good crash test results, if you guys really wanted a super safe SUV, then unibody is the way to go. Everything else being equal, a unibody is superior to a body-on-frame in a crash because the
whole body serves as a crush zone. The unibody simply dissipates crash energy better.
All SUVs are taking a major hit in resale value. My G500 losts about $10K in recent months due to this hike in fuel prices. The 4runner is probably better, but i would not sell it unless you are going to get a Corolla/Civic. Otherwise, you will be wasting money in the long run.
BTW, i am really looking forward to seeing the '09 Fit:
BTW, Mr. Steven, i am NOT using server space with the above pics because it is LINKED from another host. Of course, i am using space right now typing this to explain this simple concept to you so that you won't whine about it in the future.

Maybe you should change your "title" to something like..."ES=WA".