The Toyota C-HR, particularly the XLE trim, has made a mark in the compact SUV market, and safety is a paramount concern for potential buyers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rigorously tests vehicles to provide consumers with clear safety ratings. This analysis delves into the IIHS safety evaluations for the 2018-2022 Toyota C-hr Xle models, offering a comprehensive overview of its crashworthiness and safety features.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
In the driver-side small overlap front crash test, the Toyota C-HR XLE achieved a “Good” overall rating. This test is particularly challenging as it assesses vehicle performance when only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier.
Structural Integrity and Occupant Space
The C-HR XLE demonstrated robust structural integrity, earning a “Good” rating for structure and safety cage. Key measurements from the test underscore this, with minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment. For instance, the lower hinge pillar maximum intrusion was only 7 cm, and the steering column intrusion was a mere 2 cm. This limited intrusion is critical in maintaining survival space for the driver during a severe frontal crash.
Driver survival space maintained in Toyota C-HR XLE after driver-side small overlap front crash test, showcasing robust vehicle structure.
Driver Injury Measures
The driver dummy’s injury measures were also overwhelmingly positive, with “Good” ratings across all categories: head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. These “Good” ratings signify a low risk of significant injuries in a real-world crash of similar severity. The technical measurements reinforce these ratings, with low values for head injury criterion (HIC), neck tension, chest compression, and femur forces.
However, the assessment of “Driver restraints and dummy kinematics” received an “Acceptable” rating. While the frontal airbag did make contact with the dummy’s head, there was some movement off to the left side. This was attributed to the seat belt allowing excessive forward movement of the head and torso. Despite this, the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, providing ample forward coverage to protect the head from side structure and external objects.
Dummy head movement in Toyota C-HR XLE driver-side small overlap test, showing interaction with airbags and potential for head excursion.
Lower Extremity Protection
Crucially, the test results indicated a low risk of injuries to the driver’s legs and feet. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion in the lower section and injury measures for the lower extremities confirm the effective protection offered to these vulnerable body regions.
Driver leg and foot protection in Toyota C-HR XLE small overlap test, indicating minimal risk of lower extremity injuries.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
The passenger-side small overlap front crash test, conducted by Toyota and assessed by IIHS, also resulted in a “Good” overall rating for the Toyota C-HR XLE.
Structural Performance and Injury Prevention
While the structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating in this passenger-side test, passenger injury measures were excellent, with “Good” ratings for head/neck, chest, and hip/thigh. Lower leg/foot protection for the passenger was rated as “Acceptable.” Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics were rated “Good,” indicating effective occupant control during the crash. Driver-side injury measures, although assessed in this test setup, are less relevant to passenger safety, and they also received “Good” ratings across the board.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Assessment
In the moderate overlap front crash test, which simulates a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight, the Toyota C-HR XLE again earned a “Good” overall rating.
Comprehensive “Good” Ratings
The C-HR XLE achieved “Good” ratings in all evaluation criteria for this test, including structure and safety cage, driver injury measures (head/neck, chest, leg/foot left and right), and driver restraints and dummy kinematics. This consistent “Good” performance across the board demonstrates robust protection in a common type of frontal collision.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Evaluation
The side impact test evaluates the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in a side collision, another frequent and dangerous crash scenario. The Toyota C-HR XLE excelled in this test as well, securing a “Good” overall rating.
All-Around “Good” Side Impact Protection
The C-HR XLE achieved “Good” ratings for structure and safety cage, driver injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg), driver head protection, rear passenger injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg), and rear passenger head protection. Grease paint markings on the dummy heads confirmed that side curtain airbags effectively protected both driver and rear passenger heads from impacting hard structures during the side crash.
Driver head protection in Toyota C-HR XLE side impact test, grease paint showing airbag contact and protection from hard structures.
Rear passenger head protection in Toyota C-HR XLE side impact test, demonstrating effective airbag coverage for rear occupants.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses the structural integrity of the roof in rollover accidents. The Toyota C-HR XLE received a “Good” overall evaluation in this test. With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.78, the C-HR XLE’s roof demonstrated its ability to withstand forces well over its own weight, contributing to occupant protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints and Seats Evaluation
Evaluations of head restraints and seats are crucial for whiplash protection in rear-end collisions. The Toyota C-HR XLE’s manual cloth seats earned a “Good” overall rating, with “Good” dynamic and seat/head restraint geometry ratings. This signifies effective protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.
Headlight Performance: A Noteworthy Point for XLE Trim
The headlight ratings for the Toyota C-HR XLE trim are a point of consideration. While the Limited trim with LED projector headlights and curve-adaptive features achieved a “Good” overall rating, the LE and XLE trims, which come with LED reflector headlights, received a “Poor” overall rating.
Poor Headlight Rating for XLE Trim
The IIHS tests revealed inadequate visibility with the LED reflector headlights on the straightaway and curves for both low beams and high beams. Although high-beam assist is present, it only partially compensates for the limitations of the low beams. This “Poor” rating indicates a potential safety compromise in nighttime driving conditions for the Toyota C-HR XLE and LE trims compared to the Limited trim.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
The Toyota C-HR XLE, equipped with the standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 Pre-Collision System, demonstrated “Superior” front crash prevention capabilities in both vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian tests for 2021-2023 models.
Superior Performance in Crash Prevention
The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests. In pedestrian tests, it avoided collisions in various scenarios and effectively reduced impact speed in higher-speed tests, showcasing its ability to mitigate or prevent frontal crashes.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat anchor ease of use is important. The Toyota C-HR XLE received a “Good” rating for child seat anchors (LATCH). It features two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor, making it convenient for installing child seats securely.
Conclusion: Toyota C-HR XLE – A Safe Choice with Headlight Consideration
Overall, the Toyota C-HR XLE demonstrates strong safety performance in IIHS crash tests, achieving “Good” ratings in most categories. It provides robust occupant protection in frontal, side, and rollover crashes. The “Superior” front crash prevention systems further enhance its safety profile. However, prospective buyers of the XLE trim should be aware of the “Poor” headlight rating and consider this aspect, particularly if nighttime driving is a frequent occurrence. Despite this headlight concern, the Toyota C-HR XLE remains a fundamentally safe vehicle, offering peace of mind for drivers and passengers.
