IIHS Crash Test Results for Prius Released

[Tempus]

Crash tests of small cars & minivans: 2 earn the Institute's TOP SAFETY PICK award; 1st Institute test results for Prius hybrid


IIHS News Release

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First Institute test of a hybrid: The Toyota Prius was a good performer in the frontal crash test and, equipped with optional side airbags, also good in the side test. But it's rated marginal for seat/head restraint design, so it isn't a TOP SAFETY PICK. The movement of the driver dummy was reasonably well controlled during the frontal test. Although the dummy's head did hit the pillar between the doors and the roof rail, head accelerations were low. Other injury measures also were low, and the Prius's structure held up with minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment.

"The way a hybrid model earns the top rating in the frontal test is the same way any other car does," Lund says. "Its front structure has to crush to absorb crash energy, and it has to have a safety cage that stays intact so the safety belts and airbags can protect the occupants."

The Institute conducted two side tests of the Prius, with and without its optional head-protecting side airbags. Without the airbags the Prius earns the lowest rating of poor. The intruding barrier struck the driver dummy's head. Measures recorded during the crash indicate that a serious skull fracture and brain injuries would be likely to occur in a real-world crash of similar severity.

"The result for the Prius with its optional side curtain airbags was dramatically different," Lund says. "This time the airbag kept the dummy's head from being struck by the barrier, and injury measures all were low. These results show the importance of head-protecting side airbags in reducing the risks for car occupants, especially when their vehicles are struck in the side by a pickup or SUV."

Another important aspect of crashworthiness is how well seat/head restraints protect people from whiplash in rear impacts. The ones in the Prius earn the second lowest rating of marginal. They can be positioned high enough and close enough to the backs of most people's heads, but good geometry alone isn't enough to provide adequate protection from whiplash. Seats and head restraints have to work together to protect the neck, and the Institute's test indicates that in a real-world crash the seats in the Prius wouldn't keep the forces on the neck as low as in other vehicles.

When a vehicle is struck in the rear and driven forward, the vehicle seats accelerate the occupants' torsos forward. Unsupported, their heads will lag behind the forward movement of their torsos. This differential motion causes the neck to bend back and stretch. The higher the torso acceleration the more sudden the motion, the higher the forces on the neck, and the more likely a neck injury is to occur.

"If a seat is too stiff, without enough 'give' to it so a person sinks into it during a crash, then the head restraint can move back and away from the head. This can lead to higher forces on the neck, and whiplash injury is more likely," Lund notes.

For most vehicles with hybrid variants, the Institute's ratings apply to both the hybrid and conventional versions. These vehicles include the Honda Civic and Accord, Lexus RX, and Toyota Highlander. The Prius is sold only as a hybrid.

[DocVijay]

Yep, here is the CNN story about it.

"The Toyota Prius hybrid car, when equipped with optional side impact airbags, got top marks for front and side crash protection in crash test results released Sunday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety." -CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/04/13/prius_...test/index.html

[Bill Merchant]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DocVijay @ Apr 16 2006, 08:51 PM) [snapback]240734[/snapback]</div>

Yep, here is the CNN story about it.

"The Toyota Prius hybrid car, when equipped with optional side impact airbags, got top marks for front and side crash protection in crash test results released Sunday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety." -CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/04/13/prius_...test/index.html
[/b]

Why go to CNN to read a report about a report when you can read the original at IIHS? Is CNN more credible? I don't get it.

[priusblue]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Apr 16 2006, 08:57 PM) [snapback]240650[/snapback]</div>

"The result for the Prius with its optional side curtain airbags was dramatically different," Lund says. "This time the airbag kept the dummy's head from being struck by the barrier, and injury measures all were low. These results show the importance of head-protecting side airbags in reducing the risks for car occupants, especially when their vehicles are struck in the side by a pickup or SUV."


[/b]

Just one more reason the side curtain airbags shouldn't be optional.

[DocVijay]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Apr 17 2006, 02:15 AM) [snapback]240791[/snapback]</div>

Why go to CNN to read a report about a report when you can read the original at IIHS? Is CNN more credible? I don't get it.
[/b]

You don't need to get it. Just another source. Some people like to read stuff on CNN.com. That's where I first saw. I had actually been on the IIHS site eariler in tha day researching a new car, and it wasn't on there. I went to CNN and there it was.

More credible? No, but it was much more timely and easier to find than the IIHS site itself.

[Mardikes]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DocVijay @ Apr 17 2006, 04:36 AM) [snapback]240814[/snapback]</div>

You don't need to get it. Just another source. Some people like to read stuff on CNN.com. That's where I first saw. I had actually been on the IIHS site eariler in tha day researching a new car, and it wasn't on there. I went to CNN and there it was.

More credible? No, but it was much more timely and easier to find than the IIHS site itself.
[/b]

It is also nice to see how the mainstream press covers the story. Thanks. George

[micheal]

They had a report about this on Dateline on Sunday. Anyone else see it? When they came to the Prius, the reporter had a weird comment about the Prius, something like, "The first so-called hybrid to be tested, the Toyota Prius......."

They also mentioned at the end that the Prius did really well on the frontal impact as well, but I am not sure if that was with the side airbags or not. The end also had a statement from Toyota saying that over 90% of Pri were sold with side airbags and Toyota was considering making them standard.

I for one don't see why the automakers aren't making these standard. The evidence just continues to mount on how much they improve safety. That was one thing we definitely wanted to get on our first new car, even if it wasn't a Prius.

It was said to see the Chevy Uplander got a marginal, even with side airbags.

[NuShrike]

Nice to see hard data showing that the seats in the Prius aren't the greatest, and the headrest positioning is really harsh.

I personally have the headrest turned around because the normal position gave me neck pains for a week (5'7").

[IMHYBRID]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Apr 17 2006, 06:01 PM) [snapback]241108[/snapback]</div>

Nice to see hard data showing that the seats in the Prius aren't the greatest, and the headrest positioning is really harsh.

I personally have the headrest turned around because the normal position gave me neck pains for a week (5'7").
[/b]

I can't believe Toyota has not done anything about the crappy seats in the Prius. I complained to Toyota about the seats in November of 2003. I have read many post about the poor seats and I'm sure Toyota has read about them too. "Toyota do something about the seats please!"

[Godiva]

Why aren't the side curtain airbags standard? Because they cost money and they aren't required by law. at 90% it looks like it's harder to buy a Prius without airbags then with. I wonder if the 10% are for package 0, which has to be special ordered. I have a 2005 package #1 and it has side curtain airbags. In fact, that was my only must have.

I watched the Dateline piece with my parents, (well, Mom actually, don't know where Dad was) and when it was over I told her about the posts on this forum about people whose cars had been totaled and they basically walked away. The older they get the more they are concerned with my safety. After seeing the Dateline piece, I think my Mom is satisfied I am driving a very safe car.