IIHS: “Poor” Crash Test Result for Redesigned Toyota RAV4

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 small crossover does a "poor" job of protecting the driver if the vehicle's left front quarter hits a pole, wall or other vehicle, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The 40-mph offset test, which the institute introduced last year, indicates what happens when 100% of impact energy is absorbed by 25% of the vehicle's front crash structure. IIHS says 25% of fatal front-end crashes involve such impacts.

Toyota asked IIHS last year not to test the RAV4 until the company could complete plans to beef up the vehicle's steering column and add more padding in the footwells. The institute agreed and tested an updated vehicle.

But results were unimpressive. In the offset test, the driver's footwell was "seriously compromised," the steering column shifted seven inches to the right and the car's test dummy barely hit the front airbag before sliding off to the left, according to IIHS. The institute gave the RAV4 its worst rating, "poor."

Toyota notes that IIHS's test is considerably more severe than federal safety standards require. But it declares the company is "responding to the challenge" and will improve the RAV4's performance.