Camry and Prius V score poor rating in new IIHS testing

[CodeRedR51]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/20/iihs-subjects-midsizers-to-tough-new-impact-test-finds-fault-wi/

In its initial round of tests, the IIHS found just three of 11 midsize luxury and near-premium cars up to the job of earning acceptable or good ratings. In this latest go around, the IIHS subjected 18 midsize family sedans to the test, with two earning good ratings, 11 earning acceptable scores, three netting marginal and two suffering poor marks. Of those tested, the Honda Accord and Suzuki Kizashi earned top marks.

Interestingly enough, the IIHS has gone out of its way to highlight the poor performances by the Toyota automobiles it tested. The Camry and Prius V were both called out for poor performances in the small overlap, deeming them "the worst performers of the midsize group." This, despite the fact that both models were new for 2012. Interestingly, both vehicles previously earned Top Safety Pick status, showing just how tough the new small overlap test really is.

 

[homeforsummer]

Shows how different vehicles are designed to withstand different things. The Kizashi, which scored well in the 25% offset test, didn't do as well in rollover testing and so misses out on the IIHS Top Safety Pick standard... yet gets the Safety Pick+ standard.

I expect Toyota may be tempted to at least redesign the airbags though - if you go to the IIHS website it explains that the driver's head barely hit the driver airbag, and the curtain 'bag didn't extend far enough to protect the driver's head from the dashboard as it gets pushed up. In the Prius V, the curtain fired too late to be of any real use.

 

[Omnis]

This test is awesome. They should've done this years ago.

 

[-Fred-]

On the crashed Prius... are my eyes tricking me, or is that the driver side wheel peeking where the pedals would be?

 

[Tornado]

I'm sure Suzuki is extremely happy about this as they airlift unsold Kizashis out of American dealer lots faster than the United States taking M60 tanks from Vietnam in 1973.

 

[Slash]

....I always knew they weren't as good as they were as hyped up to be as far as safety.

 

[Omnis]

On the crashed Prius... are my eyes tricking me, or is that the driver side wheel peeking where the pedals would be?

It is. Say goodbye to your tootsies.

 

[CodeRedR51]

It is. Say goodbye to your tootsies.

Yeah just looked again. Ouch.

 

[sumbrownkid]

They should just mandate ejection seats.

 

[Blitz24]

They should just mandate ejection seats.

A lot of people would get charged with leaving the scene of the accident. And what if the roof doesn't open? Then the head gets an added insult to injury.

 

[sumbrownkid]

A lot of people would get charged with leaving the scene of the accident. And what if the roof doesn't open? Then the head gets an added insult to injury.

Well that's why we test these things with dummies.👍

 

[Blitz24]

Well that's why we test these things with dummies.👍

Do you mean actual test dummies or do we need to sacrifice some unfortunate deserving humans?

 

[sumbrownkid]

I think forced volunteers would do nicely as well.

I know some folk I can sign up for testing.

 

[Joel]

....I always knew they weren't as good as they were as hyped up to be as far as safety.

Most cars on the road would fare similarly here, likely even Ford trucks (gasp). It's not a crash area that auto makers have put much R&D into. With this new test that will change. But I guess it's more fun to bash Toyota

 

[Antonisbob]

I wouldn't want to be in that Priinus, wait... I never would want to be in one!

I got two things from this; I love seeing those plastic, ugly, new cars being wrecked.

And at around 1:28 there's what appears to be a '59 Bel-Air advertisement, in the background.

 

[Omnis]

Most cars on the road would fare similarly here, likely even Ford trucks (gasp). It's not a crash area that auto makers have put much R&D into. With this new test that will change. But I guess it's more fun to bash Toyota

However, quite a few other bread-and-butter sedans manage to keep you from becoming an amputee and don't leave the air vent pattern impressed into your skull.

 

[CodeRedR51]

However, quite a few other bread-and-butter sedans manage to keep you from becoming an amputee and don't leave the air vent pattern impressed into your skull.

Sorry I couldn't help but laugh at this.

 

[Northstar]

I got two things from this; I love seeing those plastic, ugly, new cars being wrecked.

I just like seeing cars in general being wrecked*.


*The exception being rare cars, that just makes me sad.

 

[1241Penguin]

....I always knew they weren't as good as they were as hyped up to be as far as safety.

That's a ridiculous statement. The Camry has received "Good" ratings from the IIHS tests since the 2006 model came out (citation). You don't think that's enough to justify people's thoughts on how safe a car the Camry is? It certainly isn't "hyped up".

 

[Antonisbob]

I just like seeing cars in general being wrecked*.


*The exception being rare cars, that just makes me sad.

You're quite right with this statement. Those Lamborghini crash tests are tough to watch though, I'll say.

 

[homeforsummer]

I got two things from this; I love seeing those plastic, ugly, new cars being wrecked.

It's worth interjecting at this point that while the plastic, ugly, new cars may look good being crashed, there's still a fairly good chance that in a similar road accident the driver would survive. An equivalent metal, pretty, old car would probably decapitate you with the A-pillar and embed the pedals in your testes.

 

[Joel]

However, quite a few other bread-and-butter sedans manage to keep you from becoming an amputee and don't leave the air vent pattern impressed into your skull.

I'm not saying it's a good test result for the toyotas, but to use an until now obscure test to say "they aren't all they're cracked up to be" is a stretch. I'm curious to see how much better these tests will be across the market in a few years.

 

[Tornado]

....I always knew they weren't as good as they were as hyped up to be as far as safety.

...



They changed the test. The current Camry is no less safe than it ever was. It just wasn't designed to cope with this new test, which is something that the next car will most certainly be taken back to the drawing board to fix.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

If you're going to crash in a Camry make sure to hit the other car nose-centered.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Or you don't crash at all.

 

[Joel]

Biggest danger in a Camry is falling asleep at the wheel. 89% of Pruis/Prius V accidents occur when the driver suffocates in a cloud of smug.

 

[Antonisbob]

It's worth interjecting at this point that while the plastic, ugly, new cars may look good being crashed, there's still a fairly good chance that in a similar road accident the driver would survive. An equivalent metal, pretty, old car would probably decapitate you with the A-pillar and embed the pedals in your testes.

Yea, no frame rails on the side of the fender. At least I'd die doing what I love, driving an old car.

 

[homeforsummer]

Yea, no frame rails on the side of the fender. At least I'd die doing what I love, driving an old car.

Well, quite. I must admit, I'm one of these who doesn't understand those who say "Oh, but your old car will be rubbish in a crash...". Well, yeah, obviously. I'll just try not to crash...

 

[Antonisbob]

Well, quite. I must admit, I'm one of these who doesn't understand those who say "Oh, but your old car will be rubbish in a crash...". Well, yeah, obviously. I'll just try not to crash...

Pretty much, no need to speed or anything like that, I try to keep my car right on the posted speed (I want to get the best MPG from the Eight-cylinder).

 

[sumbrownkid]

Biggest danger in a Camry is falling asleep at the wheel. 89% of Pruis/Prius V accidents occur when the driver suffocates in a cloud of smug.

Was that cloud of smug a resultant of them loving their own farts?