The Toyota Prius, a popular hybrid vehicle known for its fuel efficiency, has undergone rigorous safety testing. For those considering a 2021 Toyota Prius, understanding its crash test ratings is crucial, especially the passenger-side small overlap frontal test. This article breaks down the results and what they mean for passenger safety.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluated the Toyota Prius, and this report focuses on models built after May 2018, which includes the 2021 Toyota Prius. These models incorporate structural enhancements to improve passenger protection in specific types of frontal crashes.
The passenger-side small overlap frontal rating is a critical assessment of how well the passenger side of the vehicle holds up in a collision. This evaluation, conducted by Toyota and assigned by the IIHS, provides valuable insights into the 2021 Toyota Prius‘s safety performance.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | A |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the right side, allowing the head to move far enough forward to hit the dashboard. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed. | M |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Deciphering the Ratings for the 2021 Toyota Prius
- Overall Evaluation: Acceptable (A) – This indicates that the 2021 Toyota Prius provides an acceptable level of protection in this specific crash test.
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good (G) – A “Good” rating for structure is excellent. It means the structural integrity of the 2021 Toyota Prius‘s passenger compartment is maintained well during the crash, providing a solid foundation for occupant protection.
- Passenger Injury Measures: Mostly Good (G) – The 2021 Toyota Prius performed well in protecting the passenger’s head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot, all receiving “Good” ratings. This signifies a low risk of injury to these body regions in a passenger-side small overlap frontal crash.
- Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Marginal (M) – This is the area of concern. The “Marginal” rating suggests that the passenger restraints and how the dummy moved during the crash were not optimal. Specifically, the dummy’s head slid off the frontal airbag, hitting the dashboard. While the side airbags deployed effectively, this “Marginal” rating is important to note for potential 2021 Toyota Prius owners.
- Driver Injury Measures and Restraints: Good (G) – In contrast to the passenger side, the driver-side measurements and restraints received “Good” ratings across the board. This indicates robust protection for the driver in a similar crash scenario.
Technical Measurements in Detail
The following tables provide a deeper dive into the technical measurements recorded during the crash test of a model applicable to the 2021 Toyota Prius.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1807 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 10 |
| Footrest (cm) | 5 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 3 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 2 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 4 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 11 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 6 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 6 |
These measurements indicate the extent of intrusion into the occupant compartment on the passenger side. Lower numbers are better, signifying less intrusion and a safer space for the occupant. For the 2021 Toyota Prius, these measurements provide specific data points on structural performance.
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1807 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 221 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 49 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.6 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 28 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.44 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 19 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.8 |
| Right | 2.9 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 4 |
| Right | 12 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.63 |
| Right | 0.77 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.4 |
| Right | 0.3 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 57 |
| Right | 54 |
This table details the injury measures for the passenger dummy in the crash test relevant to the 2021 Toyota Prius. Lower HIC-15 values for the head, lower forces on the neck and chest, and minimal femur and tibia index values are desirable, indicating lower risk of injuries.
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1807 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 258 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.2 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 9 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.24 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 20 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.4 |
| Right | 0.6 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.43 |
| Right | 0.25 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 0.3 |
| Right | 1.0 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 69 |
| Right | 46 |
Similarly, the driver injury measures table presents data for the driver dummy. Comparing these values to the passenger side can highlight differences in protection offered to each occupant in this specific type of crash.
Conclusion: Safety Considerations for the 2021 Toyota Prius
The 2021 Toyota Prius demonstrates a strong structural design and good protection in most injury measures for both driver and passenger in the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test. The “Marginal” rating for passenger restraints is an area to be aware of.
For potential buyers of a 2021 Toyota Prius, these ratings provide a detailed understanding of its performance in a challenging crash scenario. While the overall and structural ratings are positive, the marginal passenger restraint rating suggests that there is room for improvement in passenger-side occupant protection. Always consider a range of safety ratings and features when making your vehicle purchasing decision.
