Toyota’s refreshed Prius C has earned Top Safety Pick honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The smallest Prius hybrid had received a dismal ‘poor’ rating in the challenging small-overlap test for the 2012-2014 model years. Intrusion into the driver’s space reached nearly 12 inches at the lower hinge pillar, increasing the likelihood of injuries to the left lower leg.
Toyota revised the hatchback’s structure for Prius C models built after May, tweaking the front-end and occupant compartment. Engineers also lengthened the side-curtain airbag to prevent the driver’s head from striking the dash.
The changes reduced maximum intrusion to nine inches and effectively deployed the side airbag to protect the test dummy against the side structure and outside objects. Injuries to the left lower leg would still be ‘possible’ in the small-overlap crash scenario, while other types of injuries bring a ‘low’ risk.
“The performance of the vehicle’s safety belts and airbags wasn’t ideal,” the IIHS said in a statement. “The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side. The safety belt allowed the dummy’s head and torso to move too far forward, and the head hit the instrument panel. The driver’s seat also tipped forward and toward the B-pillar.”
The revised Prius C has received an ‘acceptable’ rating in the small-overlap test, meeting the qualification requirements for the Top Safety Pick rating. The IIHS notes that all vehicles must receive a ‘good’ mark in all categories to qualify for the 2016 Top Safety Pick rating, however.
“Vehicles with an acceptable rating such as the Prius c will need further improvements if their manufacturers want to hold on to the honors,” the organization added.
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