Toyota Camry, Prius Rate “Poor” in Crash Test

Two Toyota cars, the best-selling Camry sedan and new Prius v hybrid wagon, earned "poor" ratings in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's tough new "small overlap" frontal crash test.

IIHS says the two models scored worst among 18 midsize family cars tested, all of them 2013 models. The two best-performing cars, both of which earned the institute's "good" rating, are the Honda Accord and Suzuki Kizashi sedans.

The institute's severe test indicates what happens when the left front quarter of a vehicle's front end strikes a rigid wall at 40 mph. The institute says the test replicates a common type of frontal crash into a pole or oncoming car. Unlike the full frontal impact crash required by federal safety tests, the IIHS test concentrates the force of impact on only 25% of the vehicle's crash structure.

In previous tests involving 11 midsize luxury models, only three earned "good" or "acceptable" ratings. The IIHS notes that 13 moderately priced cars in its new round outperformed all but three of their costlier luxury counterparts.

The 11 vehicles earning "acceptable" ratings in the latest batch of tests are the Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord two-door, Kia Optima, Mazda6, Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback and Volkswagen Passat.

Three models the Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata and VW Jetta sedan earned "marginal" scores in the IIHS tests.

In many cases, cars with an "acceptable" or "marginal" rating for the small overlap test received "good" ratings in the institute's moderate overlap, side, rollover and rear crash tests. Those vehicles earned the group's Top Safety Pick designation. IIHS says vehicles that also receive a top rating for the new small overlap test will be designated Top Safety Pick+ winners.