Toyota Prius | 2009 on

Front+side+head+knee airbags

Occupant protection score: 35.24 out of 37

Important note: The right-hand-drive European model was tested by Euro NCAP. Australasian specifications may vary and therefore models sold in Australasia might provide different levels of protection to those described on this page.

Model history and safety features

The tested model of Toyota Prius was introduced in Australia and New Zealand during 2009.

Dual front airbags, side airbags, head-protecting side curtains and a driver knee airbag are standard equipment. Antilock brakes (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist and electronic stability control (ESC) are also standard. Radar Cruise Control and Pre-Collision Safety System are available for the i-Tech variant. Intelligent seat belt reminders are fitted to both front seats.

Pretensioners are fitted to the front seat belts to reduce slack in the event of a crash. A three point seat belt is fitted to the centre rear seat. This provides better protection than a two point (lap) seat belt.

Occupant protection:

The Prius scored 15.24 out of 16 in the offset crash test. The passenger compartment held its shape well. There was a slight risk of serious leg injury for the driver and passenger and a slight risk of serious chest injury for the passenger.

The vehicle scored 16 out of 16 in the side impact crash test and a further two points in the optional pole test.

Frontal offset crash test

Body region scores out of 4 points each: Head/neck 4 pts, chest 3.85 pts, upper legs 4 pts, lower legs 3.39 pts.

The passenger compartment held its shape well in the offset crash test. The accelerator pedal moved rearwards by 50 mm and upwards 15 mm. The steering wheel hub moved 39mm forward, 37 mm upward and 7mm sideways. The front ("A") pillar moved 18 mm rearwards. All doors remained closed during the crash. After the crash the driver's door could be opened with high manual effort.

The airbag cushioned the head of the driver and contact was stable. The knee airbag protected the driver's knee from injury. The passenger's head was cushioned by the airbag.

Side impact crash test

Body region scores out of 4 points each: Head 4 pts, chest 4 pts, abdomen 4 pts, pelvis 4 pts.

The vehicle was eligible for an optional pole impact test, since it had head-protecting side airbags. The manufacturer decided to go ahead with the pole test and the vehicle earned a further two points.

Injury measurements

Body region		Offset crash test at 64 km/h (v4.1)		Side impact crash test at 50 km/h (v4.1)
		Driver	Passenger	Driver
Head HIC		214	319	36
Acceleration (g for 3ms)		36.8	48.2	18.7
Neck - Shear (kN)		0.31	0.39	-
- Tension (kN)		1.24	0.65	-
- Extension (Nm)		9.5	23.7	-
Chest Accln (g for 3ms)		-	-	-
Compression (mm)		21.08	23.04	10.66
Viscous criterion (m/s)		0.08	0.09	0.05
Abdomen - Force (kN)		-	-	0.600
Pelvis - Force (kN)		-	-	1.700
Upper legs - Force (kN)	Left	0.26	0.80
	Right	1.75	1.40
Knee displ (mm)	Left	1.30	0.20
	Right	0.70	0.80
Lower legs - Force (kN)	Left	1.99	1.66
	Right	2.92	2.10
Index (Upper/Low)	Left	0.27 /0.42	0.26 /0.19
	Right	0.44 /0.30	0.26 /0.25

Bonus points (maximum 5)

Pole test: 2 pts

Seat belt reminders: 2 (see table below for details)

Modifiers - deductions from offset test scores

Head		No deduction
Chest		No deduction
Upper leg		No deduction
Lower leg		No deduction
Foot score		Score 4 points

Modifiers - deductions from side impact test scores

Chest

No deduction

Safety features

These specifications are subject to change. Please check with manufacturer for the latest specifications.

Driver airbag	S
Passenger front airbag	S
Side airbags, front seats - chest protection	S
Side airbags, front seats - head protection	S
Side airbags, rear seats - head protection
Driver knee airbag	S
Seat belt pretensioners (Front/Rear outboard)	S/X
Antilock (ABS) brakes / Electronic brake distribution / Brake Assist	S/S/S
Electronic stability control (ESC, VSC, DSC, ESP, VSA)	S#
3 point centre rear seat belt	S
Active head restraints - front seats	S
Intelligent seat belt reminder - driver	S
Intelligent seat belt reminder - front passenger	S
Rear seat belt status indicator	X*

Key:
* = Vehicle assessed by Euro NCAP had a rear seat belt reminder system that earned 1 extra point
S = standard on all variants
O = optional on base variant. May be standard on higher variants
V = not available on base variant but standard or optional on higher variants
X = not available on any variant
# = ESC required by ANCAP for 5 star rating from 2008.

Pedestrian protection rating:

The bonnet offered good protection in most areas likely to be struck by a child's head. Protection of an adult's head was predominantly good or marginal, as was the protection offered to pedestrians' legs by the bumper and the front edge of the bonnet.

Child head impacts	8.434
Adult head impacts	6.434
Upper leg impacts	4.318
Lower leg impacts	5.248
Total (out of 36)	24.43

ANCAP printable version (PDF, 116 KB)

Page created: 17 November 2009