A long list of Toyota models have been chosen as top safety picks by the IIHS, which conducts rigorous testing on all types of vehicles each year. A list of smaller cars that rank high on safety was also released and one popular Toyota model is noted.
Most people who get used to traveling in large autos may often do so in part because they feel like they’re safer. You are up higher, have more materials to protect you, and that makes people feel safe. In past years, smaller cars often did not do as well in crash tests, so buying them made people leary. With all the advances in technolgoy, stats are showing that some smaller cars are actually getting higher crash test scores than large vehicles.
The IIHS recently released a list of some of the top rated small cars in terms of safety, based on their crash tests. One model on the list can be found at your Champaign used car dealership. To be considered a top pick by the IIHS, an auto has to rank “good”, the highest it can, in several areas including the following:
- High-speed front and side crash tests
- A rollover test
- Evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts
For an automobile to receive a top safety rating, the auto must also come with Electronic Stability Control. this is due to the fact that ESC systems help keep a vehicle in control while a driver is maneuvering through an emergency situation. The ESC also has been shown to reduce the risk of single vehicle crashes that could be fatal.
The 2011 Toyota Prius, Gibson City small car fans can find now at O’Brien Toyota of Urbana, was one smaller car that was awarded a top safety pick by the IIHS. It did great in all of the tests performed by the agency, as well as comes standard with electronic stability control. Overall, smaller autos, such as the Prius, are engineered so much better than in previous years due to stronger materials, more airbags, and much more.
Also, the 2011 Prius was the most fuel efficient of the small cars chosen as top ratings.
