See where Toyota ranks in the new IIHS “Small Overlap” Frontal-Crash Test:

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today announced a new crash test program called “Small Overlap” that is more severe than the four tests used by the IIHS in its Top Safety Picks program.

 

 

In the new test, 25 percent of a car’s front end on the driver’s side strikes a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph.  The test is intended to replicate what happens when the corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object like a tree or utility pole.  The IIHS acknowledges that outside of some automakers’ proving grounds, such a test isn’t conducted anywhere else in the United States or Europe.

 

 

In the first application of this new test, only three of 11 midsize luxury vehicles evaluated earned either “good” or “acceptable” ratings.  The Acura TL and Volvo S60 earned good ratings, while the Infiniti G earned an acceptable rating.  The Acura TSX, BMW 3 series, Lincoln MKZ and Volkswagen CC earned marginal ratings, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS 250/350, Audi A4 and Lexus ES 350 earned poor ratings.  All of these cars are 2012 models.

 

 

Regarding the new test, Toyota released the following statement:

 

 

Toyota is committed to achieving the highest standards for safety and is proud of its industry leading 17 Toyota, Lexus and Scion models named 2012 “Top Safety Picks” by the IIHS.  With this new test, the institute has raised the bar again and we will respond to this challenge as we design new vehicles.

 

 

Toyota's 17 Top Safety Picks for 2012 are: Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Prius, Prius c, Prius v, Sienna, Tundra (crew cab), Venza and Yaris (4-door hatchback); Scion tc, xB and xD; and Lexus CT 200h, GS and RX.

 

 

The IIHS said it plans to assess midsize moderately priced cars, including the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

 

 

The IIHS also said it plans to make the Top Safety Pick award criteria more stringent by adding the Small Overlap frontal test to its battery of evaluations.  The existing criteria will continue for the 2013 award cycle, but vehicles that excel in the new test will receive special recognition.

 

 

 

courtesy of iihs.org/news/rss/pr081412.html