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Toyota Prius v. ??? (fill in the comparison) - READ ONLY

393 messages,  Last post on Mar 28, 2005 at 8:51 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Hybrid Cars, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan

Messages Page 12 of 40

#104 of 393 Re: Safety [dhanley] by tempusvn

Aug 06, 2004 (4:18 pm)

Replying to: dhanley (Aug 06, 2004 1:19 pm)
"That's not true. In fact, the e-class scored better except in the area of pedestrian protection, in your own link."
 
Maybe we're reading the numbers differently.
 
http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/introduction.php
 
2003 Mercedes E Class
 
Front 13 (81%)
Side 18 (100%)
Belt Reminder 2
Overall 33
Pedestrian 4 (11%)
Child (N/R) (That was only started Dec 04)
 
2004 Toyota Prius
 
Front 14 (88%)
Side 18 (100%)
Belt Reminder 2
Overall 34
Pedestrian 13 (36%)
Child Protection 43 (88%)
 
Summary:
 
Crash Rating
Prius 34 - Mercedes 33
 
Pedestrian Rating
Prius 13 - Mercedes 4
 
Child Safety
Prius - 43 (The Highest ever recorded for any car)
 
To me, the Prius has better scores. I don't know what your interpretation of those numbers is.

#105 of 393 Re: Safety [tempusvn] by gagrice

Aug 06, 2004 (4:43 pm)

Replying to: tempusvn (Aug 06, 2004 4:18 pm)
In the NHTSA test the E320 has 5 stars in 3 of the test areas and the Prius only One 5 star rating. I don't think the Italian test is valid on autos we cannot buy in this country. That makes it misleading and the MB E320 is a quite a bit safer than the Prius you buy in the USA. Not only that if you get hit in a Prius by an E320 there may not be anything left as the Italian test did not state what happens to a car that is hit by a Land Cruiser only that you will do as well as can be expected in a car like the Prius. How is that a precise test?
 
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/SList2.cfm?vehyear=2004&vehmake- - - =Mercedes-Benz&vehmodel=E-Class
 
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/SList2.cfm?vehyear=2004&vehmake- =Toyota&vehmodel=Prius

#106 of 393 Re: Safety [tempusvn] by stevedebi

Aug 06, 2004 (4:50 pm)

Replying to: tempusvn (Aug 06, 2004 4:18 pm)
"Child Safety
Prius - 43 (The Highest ever recorded for any car)"
 
The highest since December 2003, that is...

#107 of 393 Re: SUV v MV v Prius [backy] by stevedebi

Aug 06, 2004 (4:57 pm)

Replying to: backy (Aug 05, 2004 1:10 pm)
"You are half-correct. Frontal impact tests cannot be compared across vehicles of significantly different weights. But side impact tests can be compared across all vehicles because the same size/weight sled is used to ram every vehicle. "
 
From the NHTSA site, talking about side impact testing (emphasis mine):
 
"For side crash tests, crash-test dummies representing an average-sized adult are placed in the driver and rear passenger seats (driver’s side) and secured with the vehicle's seat belts. The side crash test represents an intersection-type collision with a 3,015 pound barrier moving at 38.5 mph into a standing vehicle."
 
The Excursion weighs over 6000 lbs; the Toyota Land Cruiser has a gross vehicle weight of 6800 lbs, and the Toyota Sequoia has a 6600 lbs gross weight (subtract about 1200 lbs for curb weights).
 
That is twice what the Prius (and all other cars) are tested against. Thus my argument that one would be safer in a "T-Bone" accident in a larger car.

#108 of 393 Re: Safety [gagrice] by tempusvn

Aug 06, 2004 (5:21 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Aug 06, 2004 4:43 pm)
Remember, the NHSTA test was on a Prius without the Side Air Bags. Hopefully they'll have the airbag one up soon.
 
There is no crash difference between the Euro and US Prii, so the Euro test is much more indicative.
 
The 'feature' differences between the models would have no effect on the crash test, as I have explained before. You CAN buy the exact same car, as far as crash safety features, in the US.
 
And it's not an Italian Test, It's the European New Car Assessment Programme, the EU equivalent of the NHTSA. It's also used by Australia and New Zealand for their ratings.
 
The Italian Link was to an article, reporting on, among other things, Toyota's design and testing philosophy for the Prius. The Land Cruiser Test was a Toyota Design test. As I stated earlier, they designed, and tested, the Prius to be as safe as possible in collisions with larger vehicles. They PLANNED for it, which is something they do very well.
 
Bottom line, if you want a Mid-Size car (or, in Europe a "Large" car), the Prius is one of the safest, if not the safest ever made.
 
If you feel you need a Land Cruiser to be safe, then by all means get one, but I hear they fare very poorly in head on collisions with 18 Wheelers, unless they manage to roll over out of the way
 

#109 of 393 Re: SUV v MV v Prius [stevedebi] by john1701a

Aug 06, 2004 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (Aug 06, 2004 4:57 pm)
The SUV argument is rather silly for those of us in the north.
 
Stopping is far more important on snow & ice than the ability to get going, since most front-wheel drives are quite capable now... especially with the availability of traction-control becoming common.
 
All that weight in a monster-size SUV is very difficult to handle when you discover you are going too fast on a slippery surface.
 
JOHN

#110 of 393 Re: SUV v MV v Prius [stevedebi] by rfruth

Aug 06, 2004 (5:38 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (Aug 06, 2004 4:57 pm)
Heck there goes stevedebi's bigger is safer theory and I about had him sold on a F750
 

#111 of 393 Re: Safety [tempusvn] by gagrice

Aug 06, 2004 (5:42 pm)

Replying to: tempusvn (Aug 06, 2004 5:21 pm)
If the tests are effectively the same, does the US accept the EU tests for cars entering into the US market? Are the side airbags now standard on the Prius as they are in Europe?

#112 of 393 Re: Safety [gagrice] by john1701a

Aug 06, 2004 (5:48 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Aug 06, 2004 5:42 pm)
> Are the side airbags now standard on the Prius as they are in Europe?
 
Only the base model doesn't have side airbags. All the others have them.
 
By the way, all unqualified questions from now on will be answered with 2005 references... since the 2004 is no longer being produced.
 
JOHN

#113 of 393 Re: SUV v MV v Prius [john1701a] by gagrice

Aug 06, 2004 (5:52 pm)

Replying to: john1701a (Aug 06, 2004 5:23 pm)
All that weight in a monster-size SUV is very difficult to handle when you discover you are going too fast on a slippery surface.
 
If you are on glare ice and it is 30 degrees you better drive accordingly. I have not driven a car with traction control on ice so I will not make any judgment. I see cars, pickups & SUV type vehicles all in the ditch when people drive on ice like it was dry pavement. It happens on a daily basis in Anchorage. I would say more SUVs end up in the ditch than anything else. People think they are a lot better on ice and they are not. It is slightly better after everyone has their studded snow tires mounted after the first couple snow falls. Then the roads take a beating.

Messages Page 12 of 40

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