Prius "c" among those that received a "poor" rating in IIHS crash test...

That is exactly what I meant, should have worded it better, sorry.

Not sure whose rating is on the sticker, I'll look when I get home, but I verified it at lunch that it was full stars on all tests.

 

Hence, we need a new crash test that tests something crashing into our precious lil C from above, lol

I would love to see how autos get rated by such a test, lol

Crash tests are crash tests for the most part...from most accidents if a seat belt isn't worn (properly), that's where the highest possibility of death and injury comes from anyways. I chose a C knowing full well that if it went up against something bigger it might not do so well, but I'll take my chances and always wear my seatbelt...you don't see bikers get spooked by the possibility of them dying from just falling off their bike(s), so why get spooked by such a new crash test that for the most part...you are still inside a car and not outside it, and like my parents tell me to stay away from a bike...you want the metal to be around you, and not the other way around.

 

Actually, they have been testing for something along those lines for awhile now.


Vehicle details


Click "Roof Strength".

 

the words "slow but constant speed" don't seem to mimic a real accident where a car could be flipped/tossed at so and so speed and crash onto it's roof, but I guess that's a start at the structural strength of the car's roof

or what if the Jetson's decide to crash from above into our cars? lol

 

Well, it needs to be remembered that unless you are pulling Knight Rider Turbo-Boost or Dukes of Hazzard antics, a car generally does not accelerate into the sky and back into the ground with the sort of energy it's capable of hurtling down a freeway.

In the absence of air resistance and near the ground, an object accelerates by 22mph for each second of falling. And an entire second of falling from the apex of a launch (a point of 0 mph in vertical velocity) would cover ~32 feet.

I think it should be agreed that if your car is somehow tossed into the sky to fall onto its roof from a height of 32 feet... you've got other problems. Strike that... you've got no more problems, ever.

I think the "slow but constant speed" compression is not as far off as a practical simulation of a roll-over as you might be suggesting.

 

It's simple physics - BIG squashes little.
Any time there is an impact between a lighter object and a heavier one, the lighter one stops quicker and sustains the most damage. The only redeeming quality for the lighter object is its quicker to change direction; and thus escape or align more favorably for the impact. And whether the other oject is moving or not is not the issue uits the closing rate that matters.
Cars today are designed for crushability, the engineering of the structure to collapse upon impact at a controlled rate. So typically larger, heavier, cars have more room for the structure to collarse before transferring the impact forcr into the passenger compartment - and you.
Its the price of getting more mpg. Weight is size and size is room for design.
Any enginner coud tell you the results of those impact tests before ever conducted.
Every design gets better and usually the latest designs fare better. I wouldn't be suprized if next years crash ratings of the Prius C, based on the Mazda2 redesign, will be better than the 2013's. But it won't be as good as a Ford Fusio hubrid.Or Camry hybrid. Take your pick correlating crash ratings vs mpg.

 

You keep saying this... but the only information I have seen about it is that Ford has the rights to the Mazda 2, not Toyota...

 

Crash tests are performed to SAE standards; the results are dependent on the intrusion into the passenger space and where. There is no concern about whether seat belts are worn by dummies. And the smaller the passenger space the more intrusion expected from impacts from a heavier projectile. Which in the case of a Prius C it certainly is.
Wearing a seat belt is always best simply because it keeps you fastened to the vehicle so you slow down at the speed it does. And modern cars are designed to deform to the impact; the improvements from one design to another, typical 3 years, is usually due to changes in chassis frame materials, particularly the strength of the metals.
Next time you do a hard braking trial put an untethered doll in the seat next to you and watch how hard it hits the dashboard; take careful note thats nowhere near the quickness your car will stop in an accidental impact.
We used to get a kickj out of the mall demos by groups that let people roll down a 45 degree incline in a wheeled chair while holding a 5 pound bag. When they stopped against a barrier not one was able to hold onto that 'child' (bag). They had to stop because too many were injured by that little excuse for an accident. Never drive a vehicle withut using agood seatbelt.
BTW the standard for seat belt design was halting from 35 mph in 12 inches and 1.25 seconds, about half a g. More than 15 g's WILL likely kill you regardless.. The thought at the time was that when the impact was greater you were dead anyway. As NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, and NHRA have shown you can survive much greater impacts so my vehicles all have seat belts that are approved by those orgainizations. though I suspect many modern belts are rated better than 35 mph.

 

Mazda bought back Ford's stock in Mazda so Mazda is on its own. Ford bought into Maxzda primarily for Mazda's expertise in small vehicle design, not the other way around.Naturally, once involved fully with Mazda engineering the Fiesta and Focus are happy results but I suspect Mazda remained the major contributor right up to current products. Engines, brakes etc are likely FDord, subject to the usual Detrit cost limitations. And so far from the minisedan races so far Mazda has been the leader; and their 'skyactive' engine technology seems to be providing the better mpg numbers. I suspect with Toyoda taking the reins of Toyota There just might be a change in the Prius C performance as well. He'd love to see a Pris C out perform the CRZ I wager.
Toyota or Mazda, forgotten which, is about to start up a new plant in Mexico and the Prius C will be built on the Mazda chassis, which is certainly better than the Prius C. Since the design in the latest high strength steels and structural elements will benefit from the latest testing so the result should be better crash test performance.

 

You keep saying this, but have never given a source for the information. There has been nothing published about the next Prius C that I know of.

 

The C did well before because the new test has the small over lap which it did not fair well in?

This was the only area that got a poor rating when they added it to the testing protocol?

 

It is true the next Mazda 2 / Yaris platform will be shared and will be built in Mexico for the NA Market.

I don't know if the Prius C will be made from that plant but will say no.

The Prius C / Aquas main market is JP.

Here is one of many articles that can be found.


We Hear: Next Toyota Subcompact to be Built by Mazda in Mexico

 

I would suggest going back through the thread to figure out the topic of this particular exchange before confusing the issue further.

Hint: it's not about the Prius C.


Also, the Prius C's NHTSA ratings did not change. The small-overlap test is the IIHS's new test for this year. The Prius C scored poorly in that test. The IIHS does not offer an overall rating.

• The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is a governmental organization.
• The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) is a private organization funded by the insurance industry.
• Neither organization includes, considers, nor uses results/protocols from the other organization.
• The NHTSA rating is what is required by law to be on your window sticker. The IIHS rating is not.

 

so one car going 70 hitting a parked car would be similar to each going 35 mph. is this correct?

 

Opps I confused the two tests.

 

Poor only in the new small over lap test. The rest are all good.

 

Here are both 2014 and 2012 Prius C tests from IISH and NHTSA

2012 Toyota Prius c Crash-Test Ratings

2014 Toyota Prius c Crash-Test Ratings

 

No, because they aren't equal, the parked car would receive more of the damage... I believe... brain, also, may not be working yet this morning.

 

Insurance company will still see poor.