Toyota Prius Safety Rating
When Toyota released the Prius, they envisioned this small hatchback to become the car of the 21st century. It features a hybrid drivetrain with an internal combustion engine and electric motor. The first few models were a four-door sedan, which evolved into a five-door liftback in 2003. With the Prius becoming the go-to choice for those looking for a good hybrid car, it’s best to examine the Toyota Prius safety rating to determine how safe it can be. It’s also a good time to evaluate how it stacks against other hybrid cars and those within the liftback segment.
What Safety Features are in the Toyota Prius?
The Toyota Prius offers many safety features to give drivers and passengers peace of mind. However, safety technologies have evolved over the years, so it is worth noting that the more recent models are more advanced as far as safety and protection is concerned compared to the earlier model years.
The following are the safety features available on the latest Toyota Prius, wherein owners can access the latest safety tech:
• Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert alerts the driver when another vehicle enters the Prius’ blind spot or reverses the car.
• Integrated Backup Camera automatically activates when the Prius is in Reverse mode, showing you what’s directly behind your vehicle while backing up.
• Safe Exit Alert offers an audible alert with the help of radar sensors as it detects approaching vehicles or bicycles coming in from the rear. It prevents a potential collision when opening the door.
• Toyota Safety Sense is an integrated safety tech with many features that protect the vehicle and its occupants from potential road collisions. These features include, but are not limited to, a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Proactive Driving Assist.
Toyota Prius Safety Rating
The Toyota Prius safety ratings are in! The top agencies, NHTSA and IIHS, have tested different model years and variants of the Prius, so we’ll discuss them here so you know about how these vehicles performed in these tests.
The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime’s NHTSA safety rating is five stars overall. But let’s examine its individual ratings for the standard crash tests. First, the overall rating for the frontal crash test is four stars, with the front driver side rated at four stars and the front passenger side rated at five stars.
Meanwhile, the Toyota Prius safety rating on the NHTSA side crash test is five stars overall, and for the side barrier and side pole rating. The rollover crash test rating is four stars, with the Prius Prime having a rollover risk of 10.70%. So far, this is the latest data available for the Toyota Prius from the NHTSA.
On the other hand, the Toyota Prius safety rating from the IIHS is excellent. It earned a Top Safety Pick award in several model years. The 2024 Toyota Prius earned the Top Safety Pick with the following ratings on the Crashworthiness tests:
• Crashworthiness
o Small overlap front – Good
o Moderate overlap front (original) – Good
o Moderate overlap front (updated) – Acceptable
o Side (updated) – Good
• Crash Avoidance & Mitigation
o Headlights – Acceptable
o Front crash prevention (pedestrian) – Good
• Seat Belts & Child Restraints
o Seat belt reminders – Good
o LATCH ease of use – Good
Meanwhile, the 2023 Toyota Prius also earned the coveted Top Safety Pick. These are the ratings on the individual crash tests:
• Crashworthiness
o Small overlap front (driver-side) – Good
o Small overlap front (passenger-side) – Good
o Moderate overlap front (original) – Good
o Moderate overlap front (updated) – Acceptable
o Side (updated) – Good
• Crash Avoidance & Mitigation
o Headlights – Acceptable
o Front crash prevention (pedestrian – day) – Superior
o Front crash prevention (pedestrian – night) – Superior
• Seat Belts & Child Restraints
o Seat belt reminders – Good
o LATCH ease of use – Good
How Safe is the Toyota Prius?
Based on the safety rating from industry-standard tests and organizations, the Toyota Prius is a safe car. It has many safety features to protect the driver and its occupants.
However, you must know the Toyota Prius recall history to understand the most prevailing issues affecting this vehicle. While no powertrain issues require a recall, the Prius has had issues with the airbags, hybrid inverter assembly, tire pressure monitoring system, warning lights, and more.
Most recall issues affecting the Toyota Prius are minor, enough to earn the Top Safety Pick recognition. In addition, practicing safe driving habits can increase your protection on the road.
Does the Toyota Prius Need a Lot of Maintenance?
Like most Toyota vehicles, the Prius is easy to maintain and care for. However, Prius owners must follow their routine maintenance schedule to keep the vehicle in good running condition. The ideal schedule for maintenance is every 5,000 miles, 15,000 miles, and 30,000 miles.
If maintained properly, it can last much longer than its average lifespan. A Prius is expected to last up to 300,000 miles, although its estimated lifespan is 200,000-250,000 miles.
