Top 3 Best Crash Test Rating Hybrid Cars

• Posted on Autos.com Editor
• in Driving and Safety
• on October 7, 2013

Crash test ratings take into consideration the speed, weight, and positioning of a car as it is in an accident. There are two basic types of crash testing: frontal crash testing and side impact testing. More information regarding crash testing can be found online, however the basic premise is that frontal crash testing evaluates how well a particular car will take a head on collision while side impact testing evaluates the effects of a side crash (often called a “T-bone” crash). The results of the tests are based on not only the damage withstood by the car, but also the crash test dummies situated in the car. Items such as side and passenger airbags, increased crossmember strength and automatic locking seat restraints tend to increase the crash test rating of vehicles.

Hybrid Cars and Crash Testing

In the past hybrid cars have not gotten rave reviews for their crash test ratings due to the light and relatively inconsequential materials that their bodies tended to be made out of in an effort to save weight. Today’s hybrid cars are much different, however and mate environmental frienldy technology to safety quite handily. The top three best crash test rated hybrid cars are the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry and the Ford Fusion.

• Toyota Prius- The Toyota Prius received a crash test rating of four (4) stars for the frontal impact rating and five (5) stars for the side impact rating. Some of the standard safety equipment found on the Prius are 4-Wheel ABS, Traction Control, Child Seat Lower Anchorage, Adjustable Upper Belt, Pretensioner, Rear Center Lap/Shoulder Belt, Rear Seat Head Restraint, Trunk Release and Tire Pressure Monitor.

• Toyota Camry- The Toyota Camry received a crash test rating of five (5) stars for the frontal impact rating and five (5) stars for the side impact rating. Safety equipment that comes standard on the Toyota Camry includes 4-Wheel ABS, Traction Control, Child Seat Lower Anchorage, Adjustable Upper Belt, Pretensioner, Rear Center Lap/Shoulder Belt, Rear Seat Head Restraint, Trunk Release and Tire Pressure Monitor.

• Ford Fusion- The Ford Fusion received a crash test rating of five (5) stars for the frontal impact rating and five (5) stars for the side impact rating. Some of the standard safety equipment found on the Ford Fusion includes 4-Wheel ABS, Child Seat Lower Anchorage, Adjustable Upper Belt – Front, Pretensioner, Energy Management Feature, Rear Center Lap/Shoulder Belt, Advanced Air Bag Features, Side Airbag – Front, Head Airbag – Front, Trunk Release and Tire Pressure Monitor.

All three of these hybrid cars received a four (4) star rating for rollover resistance and provide passenger side airbags. The Toyota Camry comes standard with seat mounted side airbags and curtain side airbags, whereas the Ford Fusion has multi-stage deployment airbags eqipped for both the driver and passengers. The Toyota Prius comes standard with multi-stage airbag deployment as well, however it adds occupant sensors to the passenger side airbag to negate needless deployment.

Conclusion

Hybrid cars are no longer considered subpar in relation to their crash test ratings. Hybrids now can not only compete with normal cars in crash test ratings, they are beating them in terms of safety, gas mileage and of course their impact on the environment.