Industry Expert Claims Toyota Small Car Safety Has Set Back Industry By 5 years?

Toyota Motor Co., whose cars and trucks have helped set industry standards for affordable safety, had two of the worst performers in crash tests of the new subcompact sedans that are growing in popularity as motorists seek better gas mileage.

The 2007 models of Toyota's basic Yaris sedan and its boxy Scion xB wagon received the lowest scores as the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated "minicars" for the first time from five automakers.

"Tests like these are going to set small cars back a half-decade," said industry analyst Eric Noble of CarLab. The Orange, Calif., firm specializes in product testing and development consulting for automakers.

"Toyota doesn't usually make mistakes," Noble said, "but it was foolish of them to bring over small cars designed for the Japanese market," where cars and trucks are much smaller than those in the U.S.

Full 2006 LA Auto Show photos (click the link below)

2006 LA Auto Show Photo Gallery

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries

Read Article

mostafa - 12/20/2006 12:54:28 PM

+1 Boost

how did you figure these cars were so cheap? they are inexpensive for a reason.

and that reason, is showing in these tests.

EvoAudi - 12/20/2006 1:30:22 PM

+2 Boost

wait.. the car in the pic is a 4-door hatch, the U.S doen't get that model.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/21/2006 9:51:31 PM

+1 Boost

I think that's the Toyota Vitz/Euro-spec Yaris. Right? I think?

mkk21 - 12/20/2006 1:42:27 PM

+3 Boost

What a way to spin this story against toyota. Head on crash tests all small cars passed. With side impact tests, true the Yaris w/o side impact airbags and the Scion Xb got low scores, but so did the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio. In fact, the Yaris WITH side airbags actually got a "good" passing score.

paul3230 - 12/20/2006 2:21:48 PM

-2 Boost

Interesting..you would have thought Toyota would have understood this issue better..hopefully no one get's serious hurt because of this move..

1970toyotamarc - 12/20/2006 3:17:00 PM

+2 Boost

Another b.s. Autospies article being used to bash Toyota. I dont know who "industry analyst Eric Noble of CarLab" is, but he apparently knows squat about cars and Toyotas. The Yaris, with optional side airbags, tested good, good and marginal in the three tests published yesterday. The only real problem here is that the side airbags are an option. If customers want them, they can order them. Not everyone can afford every option, and if entry cars are too expensive, then customers are left with buying used, which will inevitably have less safety features.
The Yaris scored higher than many others subcompacts in that test, so why is Agent009 headlining the post with a diss on Toyota. Hopefully not just because some "expert" makes some ridiculous comment that he pulled out of his ass. Setting the industry back 5 years, please, get a clue. the fact that subcompacts can earn good scores is a testsment to how far Toyota and the other Japanese mfrs have come in advancing safety.

chewy - 12/20/2006 3:22:01 PM

+1 Boost

This is why German cars are heavier. They put the extra weight into safety. The Rabbit did fine in the safety test.

chewy - 12/20/2006 4:48:50 PM

+1 Boost

The Golf got 5 stars as well, but it is two year older.

Agent009 - 12/21/2006 8:12:16 AM

-2 Boost

Still doesn't change the comments by the experts. We are merely relaying the data to you.

truckmen - 12/21/2006 4:42:02 AM

+4 Boost

For 2006 the honda civic was the safest,safer than the corola,I bet the 2007 corola bith the stiffer unibody is as safe as the civic now.I wouldn't put my family in the Yaris!Or any car that size.

truckmen - 12/21/2006 4:42:04 AM

+2 Boost

For 2006 the honda civic was the safest,safer than the corola,I bet the 2007 corola bith the stiffer unibody is as safe as the civic now.I wouldn't put my family in the Yaris!Or any car that size.

ElSparquito - 12/21/2006 1:41:41 PM

0 Boost

Does anyone here own a minicar?