Featured Toyota Earns a Total of Eleven IIHS 2018 Awards

Is that a "demotion" - I thought it had a "PLUS" rating before?

 

The indefinite antecedent of "it" puzzles me....

(These ratings apply to the US versions of cars, the AU versions may be different.)

 

To get a Plus for 2018 the car must get a Good headlight rating. Acceptable is not good enough,

 

Yes, PRIUS. So, on paper, the 2016 with "+" is safer than the 2018 model - but we know otherwise. I think it's a big confusing mistake

They've started doing that downunder, and I think it's confusing, not so much to those in the know, but more to the vast, vast majority who are just uninformed.

For instance, our 1-5 STAR rating system has been getting progressively harder to get 5 STAR.

Which sounds good in theory, but we need to remember that the vast, vast majority of buyers aren't going to have a clue that the ratings aren't comparable year by year. Why not extend the number of STARS - so what if in 2023 the new PRIUS gets 18 points?

But, because most people aren't informed, in 2023 little Sophie says to Mum about a cute, 15 yr old 2008 FIESTA - "it's very safe, it's got 5 STARS" - so Mum buys it - thinking that it's as good as a 2023 PRIUS which also has 5 STARS, the salesman looked it up for me.

 

No. You can only compare the overall ratings for the same year. The individual test results can be compared across years.
The automotive insurance group IIHS developed this rating system to shame the vehicle manufacturers to make safer vehicles so the price of insurance claims is reduced. They progressively make their standards stricter so the companies will improve their products.
We know that the 2017 Prius headlights were improved over 2016 since Toyota paid for new testing and the results improved. Normally the IIHS buys the vehicles they test. If a manufacturer feels they have made changes to improve test results, they can pay for the vehicles and testing.

 

Our government has crash tests and ratings that have been relatively consistent. IIHS developed their ratings because the government testing was too easy.
Since car buyers are looking closely at the IIHS ratings when buying a car, the system has been successful in increasing car safety. The government test results are largely ignored.

EDIT: Here is our government's "5 star" rating for the 2016 Prius.

2016 TOYOTA PRIUS 5 HB FWD | NHTSA

 

Hyundai with 6 cars and Subaru with 4 cars in 15 cars of TSP+ ranking were the best showing in the industry. Subaru had 6 out of 7 cars in their line-up in the TSP+ and TSP. Toyota had only 1 (Camry) in TSP+. Among the 62 cars in TSP+ and TSP, there are only 4 domestic models from the Big 3 (2 GM、1 Chrysler、1 Ford=Lincoln). What a shame!

 

Yes, our Government Crash tests are linked with the EURO one (EURO NCAP or ANCAP - Australian New Car Assessment Program). They keep adding to the test requirements, then change the markers so nobody can compare last year's cars with this years. And salespersons in years to come can pull the wool over unsuspecting buyers of Used Cars (but what's new).

Unlike AirConditioners which are far more logical - my newest (a FUJITSU) one had a 5 STAR rating in 2012 which was the best possible, the same model still has 5 STARS, but the best one on the market now has 7 STARS. I can instantly see that mine isn't as good as the 2017 DAIKIN.

 

I think there is a potential flaw:


If you go to some others which had a TSP+ rating, but not now, there is also a blank against "Passenger Side" - I'm assuming that they haven't been tested.

I didn't check all the new TSP+ ones, but some only have "A" for "Passenger Side" - eg





For instance, there are no VOLVOs which appear to have been tested on Passenger side.

 

The testing is phased in. Initially they choose some vehicles to validate their test. After that, the newer design cars are tested.
For new designs IIHS purchased the vehicles. If a manufacturer improves their design and wants a vehicle re-tested, like the 2017 Prius headlights, the manufacturer provides the vehicle or vehicles needed and pays for the testing IIRC.