Camry and Lexus get top crash rating

29 May 2002: The new Toyota Camry (above) and the Lexus IS300 both received the top crash rating of 'good' in a recent series of tests carried out by the US-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And along with the Saab 9-5 they also earned a 'best pick' designation. The Jaguar X-Type also rated at the top.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's ratings reflect performance in a 40mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier. Based on the results of the test, the Institute evaluates the crashworthiness of passenger vehicles, assigning each vehicle a rating of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor.

The Institute has tested 29 current midsize car designs in three price ranges, and 17 of the 29 are rated good overall.

The US federal government has been testing new passenger vehicles in 35 mph full-front crash tests since 1978. This New Car Assessment Program has been a major contributor to crashworthiness improvements - in particular, improved restraint systems in new passenger vehicles. The Institute's offset tests, conducted since 1995, involve 40 percent of a vehicle's front end hitting a deformable barrier at 40 mph. This test complements the federal test involving the full width of the front end hitting a rigid barrier.

The same 40 mph offset crash test is used to evaluate new cars by the EU in cooperation with motor clubs - the Euro NCAP programme - and by an Australian consortium of state governments and motor clubs, and a government-affiliated organization in Japan.

May 2002