2010 Prius safety

I read about the extra 100 lbs more (despite 60 lbs reduction in the powertrain) due to the extra strength for safety.

As Tideland pointed out, knee airbag will be standard.

 

I doubt it's going to be worse than the current generation, and the current generation isn't bad in my experience:





That's my 2005 Prius after being T-boned by a Chevy Tahoe who ran a red light. I would say I walked away, but I was actually collared and backboarded away to the hospital as a precaution. I ended up with some bruises and muscle pain, and that's it.

So assuming the insurance company decides to total it, which I strongly suspect they will, I'm now in the market for a 2010 Prius. Or maybe the Lexus HS250h, depending on where the pricing falls.

 

Damn! Glad you came out OK. Your car did so well that it looks like they didn't even cut you out, and the door is still operable?

 

That's the result of 5 stars rating for the front side impact. Do you know how many mph the Tahoe was going?

 

Scarry stuff. Glad you are okay.

 

They did cut me out, although I'm not 100% sure it was needed. My leg was trapped between the door and the steering wheel, but I could have pulled it free if I wasn't worried about it being worse than bruised, and I suspect the door would have opened some as well. However, the accident occurred directly in front of a fire station, so they were breaking windows and extricating me before I even realized what was happening.

In terms of how fast the Tahoe was going, the speed limit on the road is 45mph as I recall. From my read of the police report, it seems like the 17 year old girl who was driving was talking to her friends and didn't notice the light, so I'd guess around 30mph or so, assuming she started braking when she saw me enter the intersection or a bit before if she finally noticed the red light.

 

Also, the new active headrests should reduce whiplash injuries from rear end collisions.

 

This probably how it happened.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKnGans-JD0]YouTube - Crash Test 2007 Toyota Prius (Side) IIHS with Side Airbags[/ame]

 

I wonder why they don't have rear side airbags as well.

 

Actually, yes, why not include it? Other manufacturers do. Cost cutting? Probably. BTW. I love the fanboi mentality here that some have, where Toyota can do no wrong. Funny!

 

Its a good thing auto manufacturers are a little less ignorant than you. Its much cheaper to engineer one door & one uniside to fit or not fit an addtl side airbag. Those that do offer a choice of a rear side airbag, when ordered, the dealers make it a point of the risks when a child is occupied in the sides of the rear seats. When I ordered mine ( not a Toyota), I declined the rear side airbags although it was only a few hundred dollars.

That said, I think Toyota made the right call with this one. I see many Prius (s) with child seats in them in Socal. Unlike front side airbags, where the front passenger is more exposed, with only the center post offering stationary protection, the rear seat is positioned between much stronger portions of the unibody. Our current lease expires this fall and the safety ratings & no standard rear side airbags will be a great determining factor in considering the Prius as wifey's car will be the primary kiddie shuttle for us.