Toyota is disputing the test methods of safety organization Euro NCAP after the Urban Cruiser was given a disappointing three-star rating.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser was particularly criticized by Euro NCAP for its Adult Occupant Protection capabilities, for which it scored just 58 per cent.

However, Toyota is disputing Euro NCAP's test methods. A spokesman said, "Toyota gives priority to building cars that are as safe as possible.

"In 2009, we received a five-star rating for all three new cars that were evaluated by Euro NCAP (iQ, Avensis and Prius).

We are currently investigating the Euro NCAP result in detail, in order to understand why there is a difference between our Toyota assessment and Euro NCAP's rating.

"Together with other car makers, we are also discussing with Euro NCAP certain aspects of their evaluation methodology, which might also explain why the rating is lower than we expected.

"The three-star rating for the Urban Cruiser has been triggered by the "pole side impact" test. During this assessment, the dummy head area deceleration slightly exceeded the demand value of Euro NCAP.

"There is a difference of opinion between us and Euro NCAP on a technical matter, namely peak acceleration of the head area in the Pole Side Impact test.

"Our in-house tests, which are designed to meet the highest safety requirements, indicated that the protection provided by the head curtain airbag would be in line with a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

"Once again, we remain fully convinced that Urban Cruiser is a safe car."

Here's the video:

http://jalopnik.com/5412791/smashing...lery/gallery/4

from:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...ruiser/245310/

 

I have never heard of any car manufacturer say anything but "Our car is safe" or "We are committed to safety...". And I can't count how many times they say that the testing methods were flawed and don't represent real life situations or conditions. I really wish they would come out and say "You're right, we better get to work on that".
And the difference in the Pole Side Impact test was minimal? Didn't that test how fast the head de-acelerates in a side impact? Someone's head doesn't care of the test differences are slight: the Urban Cruiser's numbers are erring on the bad side. Not good.

Speaking from my younger days working in ER and as an EMT, I've seen cars that would scare the crap out of the manufacturer's executives. The engineers who designed the cars would say "I told you so".

For me, the primary reason why I got the xB2 was it's recommendation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Come on Toyota, if you can make my small xB2 safe, you can make the small Urban Cruiser safe.

 

I just find it odd that according to the IIHS the xD is good or acceptable, but according to this european version of the IIHS it is only a 3 star rating, with nothing but poor remarks...

 

I've driven much more unsafe cars than what I'm driving now, so I am not worried about a single type of accident. Any accident can be dangerous for its occupant(s), regardless of the type of collision. Crash tests prove some things, but they cannot prove (or even hope to simulate) everything.

We have so much testing on cars nowadays, that I personally put as much thought into the crash test ratings of my xD (or really any modern car) as I do into its towing capacity (with all due respect to McBrew).