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.
#regulations
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.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Cobots: 14 Things You Need to Know
What jobs do cobots do well? How is a cobot programmed? What’s the ROI? We asked these questions and more to four of the leading suppliers of cobots.
-
When Automated Production Turning is the Low-Cost Option
For the right parts, or families of parts, an automated CNC turning cell is simply the least expensive way to produce high-quality parts. Here’s why.
-
Robotic Exoskeleton Amplifies Human Strength
The Sarcos Guardian XO Max full-body, all-electric exoskeleton features strength amplification of up to 20 to 1, making 200 pounds—the suit’s upper limit—feel like 10 pounds for the user.