Vehicle Stability Control

I think the prevailing auto safety wisdom is that Vehicle Stability Control or electronic stability control is the greatest advance in auto safety since the seat/shoulder belt.

Go for it. Get option package #2 and you get the VSC and the rearview back-up camera, plus other good things like the auxilery input for your iPod or other audio device.

 

Playing around with the VSC in a snow and ice covered ski resort parking lot convinced me that it is worth whatever price, and that I will never buy another car without stability control.

 

I would agree that it's important for all cars.

it's saved me in gravel and wet weather. it does wonders for ice handling.

 

I will never own another car without it. Had it on my C5 and it was truly amazing. The VSC on the Prius goes one step further in that it utilizes the electric power steering to maintain control in addition to the braking and ani-lock breaking of individual wheels, and of course throttle control.

 

Unless you're a skilled Rally Driver who likes to slide through corners, VSC is useful in controlling the swing-motion during slippery (snowy) condition.

It's not just for SUV...any vehicles with 4 wheels on the road will be beneficial from the VSC.

 

It's good for all cars. It's right next to seat belts for occupant safety.

Tom

 

VSC can also actuate the steering wheel. Previous systems that utilized hydraulic power steering were unable to do so. i.e. GM(Active Handling), Prorsche(PSM), Mercedes(ESP), etc.

 

EVEN IF you're a skilled Rally Driver who likes to slide through corners, VSC is useful.

Granted, a Rally driver wouldn't want their race vehicle being hobbled by VSC, but in everyday normal street driving, VSC helps them too. Rally drivers don't drive down the freeway always on guard thinking, "OK, now I'm gonna slide to the left" . . . but VSC does.

 

VSC helps me greatly. Often, I like to take curves fast, within the limit of my vehicle's grip. If I exceed the limit, VSC takes over and keeps the car on the curve. I've also managed some nice lateral slides when taking corners really hard. You'll likely see VSC as a standard safety feature, like airbags, in the future. It is an amazing advancement in active safety!

 

Here's a Toyota document which mentions the steering wheel control in the VSC description. Interestingly, they left out throttle which is critical to active handling programs:

http://www.toyota.com/html/hybridsynergyview/archive/pdfs/priusview4fall2003.pdf

 

"For example, optional Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)* automatically
coordinates the electric power steering and brakes to improve
vehicle stability and handling."

I suppose you could read this as not actively controlling steering and brakes, but then VSC wouldn't do much. Since engineers in automotive system white papers have been talking for years how much better stability control would be once electric power steering became common place, it's a pretty good bet that the above means what it implies. Before electric power steering, various control programs had to try to correct orientation by indvidually breaking or anti-lock braking wheels. Once the steering wheel was also controllable, this became a lot easier.

 

What is said about this in the french Prius Brochure :

I'll translate for you :
"It works in parallel with Eletric power steering to help the driver keep the vehicule control in unexpected situation.
By giving torque assistance to steering, it allows to operate steering wheel more rapidly, which allows better reaction time, a vital advantage to minimize or avoid collision."

To me this means that the driver stays in control of the vehicule and that it wont turn the wheel in your place, but will facilitate you turning the wheel if you need to.

 

It helps if you don't know how to brake and steer.