Gen III Small Overlap Test: Acceptable

that's it, v's off my list.

 

So be sure to hit something head on.

Old news.

 

I thought there was little difference between V and hatchback in the front end?

Besides, if you do one of each experiments, it's not a scientific test.

 

Very disappointing to see Toyota continuing to not care about protecting their customers.

 

230lbs more is not way more IMO. This is what just one passenger may weigh.

 

The test is done with specified weight simulating occupants. Yes, 230 lbs seems like a small difference but it only takes a little to cause a lot more damage.

These tests are for comparison purposes only. They know the damage will not be either repeatable or similar to "real world" collisions. When would you run into a perfectly flat surface that doesn't break? Cement corner of an overpass support? They are usually rounded and protected by energy absorbing barriers.

One of each experiment is all that is required. Care to pay for more in your taxes or in the cost of the vehicle? This tests a crash that is in the lower probability of occurring.

As far as Toyota "not caring", they now know what will happen (this is a newish test requirement). I would bet the GIV Prius V will meet it as "acceptable". ANY older car will not pass most of these tests. They weren't designed to. Note as well, as cars are "designed better", they get heavier. Heavier means it's harder to get good mileage.

 

Yes, for a science fair.
No, if you want a scientifically valid study

 

Well yes, but "a scientifically valid study" is not what the US govt. is conducting. It is simply a "quick and dirty" way to show how the car will behave in a very specific crash. Note I said "quick and dirty", not cheap! Or repeatable.

What they do now for the most part is take the results from those "real crashes" in the lab, analyze what happened, then adjust the computer modelling software. The software is used to design the car and predict how it will perform. But only the next generation of cars benefit. Once they are confident of that the "real" compliance tests can be done.

That test was not required when the "V" was designed. As I said, most cars on the road today will not pass many of these tests. Only the newest will. As a corollary to that, the newest car design is usually the safest in these tests. Until a newer design comes out (I'm talking about different models and manufacturers here).

It's a moving target, and when you buy a car you are "stuck" in the "past".
To make yourself and the manufacturers happy about safety, buy the newest model as soon as it comes out! Yup, that's expensive. But you'd be safe! Or at least as safe as they can make you.

 

I think we can agree on the "quick and dirty" part. But if precision of the test was never established, you can't compare the results. So, to say that one car fails and another passes based on the flawed test is not responsible. This IMHO explains why one version of prius passes and another fails, while they are not that different in the first place.

One more thing. This is not US govt. conducting it. It's
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

 

Pretty interesting video. Interesting to see how the dummies slide to the left and away from the steering wheel airbag....I wonder why they can't make a wing-shaped airbag for the front which overs lateral head movement?

If anything, these tests are just preliminary baselines for a more rigorous testing regimen. That said - these tests are very expensive. As per my personal choice - I did buy the late production (made in Dec 2013) 2014 Prius over a C, or V based on the crash result. A little safer is better than not-as-safe. But, realistically - I could see myself as toast in a small overlap crash like that. Ouch.