Prius vs SUV

That poor white Prius gave it's all for the passengers. The car was totaled HSD gone, front end gone, but passenger cage intact! I hope Belle does not have to give her all for me.

 

The SUV in that crash test is called the Toyota Prado. It is not sold in the USA, but it has been brought to the USA as the Lexus GX470 (5-door model only) with minor body style and wheel differences and an upscale interior.

Weight in Toyota Prado trim: Ranges from 4189 to 4652 pounds
Weight in Lexus GX470 trim: 4871 pounds

 

Toyota sells very different vehicles in other markets outside of North America.

www.toyota.nl

nl = Nederland

Here are the vehicles offered to The Netherlands:

http://www.toyota.nl/cars/new_cars/index.asp

Here are some other markets:

Deutchseland:

http://www.toyota.de/cars/new_cars/index.asp

Australia:

http://www.toyota.com.au/toyota/main/Vehic...363_402,00.html

South Africa:

http://www.toyota.co.za/models

I love diversity. Don't you? Makes the world a nice and interesting place.

 

Minimum Federal standards are 30 MPH. That is for a head-on style crash. The NHTSA tests at 35 MPH:

http://www.safercar.gov/pages/ResourcesLinksNSSandR.htm

The offset crash is a much more severe test. In the test, only 40% of the vehicle is allowed to absorb the impact, which is into a deformable aluminum barrier to simulate another vehicle absorbing some of the crash force. The test is run at 64 km/h or 40 MPH.

The offset crash is also known as "real world crash" as it simulates a vehicle that has drifted over the center line to hit another vehicle. The Europeans put a lot more emphasis on this crash test than we do, as well as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

http://www.euroncap.com/content/test_proce...ront_impact.php

http://www.hwysafety.org/ratings/protocols...otocol_high.pdf

 

Thanks for the info. jayman, I'm going to check it out when I have the chance...

 

The older F-150 did especially poorly:

http://www.hwysafety.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=7

My 2000 GMC Sierra wasn't much better:

http://www.hwysafety.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=4

There was some bad press so Ford redesigned the F-150 to perform much better.

http://www.hwysafety.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=192

About their worst performer was the Astro van

http://www.hwysafety.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=66

 

Hehehehehe

 

Sorry. An honest oversight on my part.

 

Are you implying that I don't like diversity? Or are you just clarifying the fact that Toyota sells different vehicles in different market like most car companies?

 

Nope, I was implying I certainly like and appreciate diversity.

You can read whatever you want into it. It's my understanding you have the right to free speech.

 

thanks for sharing the video. I have had concerns about the safety of the car as it is smaller then other cars I have owned and I drive in SUV land (Houston). The passenger cage seem quite strong based on the video. I have to say that since trading in my WRX for a Prius, I have dropped my average speed of 85 to be around 70mph during my reverse traffic commute. That alone probably increase my mortality chances considerably.

 

Not to mention the fact that SUVs readily "flip" when a turn is made at high speed, on slick roads, etc. And when they flip, the often impact other innocent bystanders and cars.

I'm safer in my Prius because:

1. I am driving more safely, leaving more room between me and other cars so I can operate the Prius efficiently. With this additional distance, I can see and avoid potential accidents, since now I have time to react appropriately.

2. Side air curtains and skid control.

3. No simmering rage from just paying $50 or more to fill the tank of a behemoth!

Prius -- there's nothing like it ! It makes you drive more safely (with ongoing immediate positive reinforcement), you pay less for your travels, and it's a gorgeous car -- not a big box ungainly box hurtling through space, barely under control.

Do I love my Prius? You betcha! :lol:

 

Pretty soon, the Selfish Unsafe Vehicles will be out of gas, so it really won't matter, unless you hit a parked one.

Actually, I thought the Prius did pretty good. There are so many real world factors to consider, angle of "attack", closing speed, vehicle weight, etc. A friend of ours head-oned an Explorer with her Outback. The Explorer flipped and injured the driver. Outback driver hit so hard it cracked the engine block, but she walked away...and bought another Outback.

The Prius is not the problem, its the Stoopid Unsafe Vehicles out there!

Be careful!

 

The Prius did very well. I agree that the passenger compartment is pretty well protected. Side impact curtains would also add to the safety issue. Couple of other informative pictures/articles:

http://www.bridger.us/2002/12/16/CrashTest...ooperVsFordF150
wish it was a video...

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/wireStory?id=169...TC-RSSFeeds0312

Just a couple of articles to make you feel good about your Prius (w/side air bags!)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Salsawonder @ Apr 28 2006, 05:23 PM) [snapback]246845[/snapback]</div>

Why does that old F-150 pic keepgetting dragged up over again. That is the OLD F-150. THe new one is an amazingly safe vehicle, setting a new standard by which all pick-ups are measured by. As safe as most other cars out there. Here is a new offset crash pic for comparison: