Toyota takes on IIHS Top Safety Picks

Just days after its public shouting match with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over sudden acceleration claims, Toyota is now arguing with the nation’s top private safety organization, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

On Wednesday, the IIHS released its list of Top Safety Picks for 2010. This year the Institute added a new roof strength test to its requirements for cars to receive the rating. That demanding criteria dramatically shortened the 2010 list.

In its press release announcing the results, IIHS called out Toyota for having no vehicles that qualified.

In response, yesterday Toyota called IIHS’s new methodology “extreme and misleading.” In a statement, Toyota Vice President of Public Affairs Irv Miller said, “There are 38 Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models, and only three were tested for roof strength by IIHS: Camry, RAV4, and Yaris.” He said all Toyota products meet government standards for roof crush. The new IIHS test for roof strength is much tougher than the government standard, which NHTSA looking to make more stringent.

Later yesterday, Russ Rader, an IIHS spokesman, essentially told Toyota to put up or shut up. He is quoted in the New York Times stating that all automakers were invited to nominate vehicles to be tested (and reimburse IIHS for the test.) “We don’t think there are automakers who would miss the opportunity to have their vehicles tested if they thought they met the criteria. We can only assume the [manufacturer’s other] vehicles would not do well for roof strength.”

While Toyota still has among the most reliable and fuel-efficient car lineups Consumer Reports has tested, the bloom may be coming off the company’s rose. While its cars generally do well in most safety measures, this pattern of blasting the messenger isn’t helping its public image, an image that is increasingly under attack.

Over time, the IIHS is expected to test more vehicles for roof strength. The test is performed by pressing a metal plate against one side of the roof at a constant speed. To earn a Good rating, a vehicle must withstand a force that is four times the vehicle’s weight before compressing five inches. This tough new test adds another dimension to the Top Safety Picks.

For information on how vehicles perform in government and IIHS crash tests, see the safety tabs in the model overview pages, available to online subscribers.

Watch more than 300 crash tests videos to see how vehicles perform in frontal offset and side-impact tests.

—Eric Evarts

Consumer Reports family sedans chat

Today, Consumer Reports experts will be online to discuss the latest road test group—family sedans—here in the Cars blog at 1 p.m. ET.

As seen in the December 2009 edition of Consumer Reports magazine, we tested several all-new and updated models, including the Ford Fusion, Mazda3 iTouring, Subaru Legacy, and Toyota Camry.

Our automotive experts will field questions about these cars and other sedans during the live, interactive chat, sharing test findings and helping you make the right buying decisions.

Algae slime makes good “Fuel” for moviegoers

For an alternative perspective on the future of the automobile, it may help to look at an alternative film. “Fuel” by Josh Tickle is a thought-provoking documentary that examines America’s addiction to oil and what we can do about it.
 
Tickle does a good job of keeping the serious subject rather upbeat and hopeful, as he travels the world in his so-called Veggie Van, fueled by used vegetable oil. The film is engaging and friendly, cajoling audiences into sympathy with its message, not browbeating them.
 
Tickle is a fan of biodiesel, and a lot of the movie is focused on that fuel. Biodiesel is a promising alternative that until recently had problems only with scalability. It worked terrifically for the few consumers who made the commitment to use it, but it looked difficult to supply enough to fuel more than a million or so of America’s roughly 240 million cars. (Read “Diesel vs. biodiesel vs. vegetable oil.”)
 
“Fuel” also documents the growth of the algae biofuel movement, which promises to create economies of scale that biofuels have not had before. (We’ll look into this fuel movement and share our own findings later.)
 
Statistics on alternative fuels are notoriously squishy. Different studies show different advantages. But as a student of these studies, Tickle’s numbers are within the range of those cited by neutral sources, unlike those of some other documentaries on the automotive industry.
 
That’s not to say the movie doesn’t occasionally paint a rosy picture. As with other documentaries, its problems are more of omission, rather than commission. Framing the discussion around biofuels results in a myopic exclusion of any discussion of fuel cells, batteries, or the micro-level economics fundamental to most American families.
 
For example, after it spends a significant amount of time interviewing officials and citizens of some European countries moving off of oil, and noting how they may pay less for biodiesel than for petroleum-based fuel, it fails to mention that consumers in the United States almost always pay more.
 
And “Fuel” misses the point that the government is now heavily subsidizing the development and distribution of electric cars and plug-in hybrids to wean the U.S. off of oil. And while it touches on the future of wind and solar power, it never mentions the fact that these alternatives also need advanced batteries that can piggy-back off the development of new batteries for cars.
 
One amazing statistic in the film compares the cost of funding wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (to protect American access to oil, the film posits) with the cost of providing enough solar panels to meet the electricity needs of every household in the United States. Based on our check of government and solar industry figures, the cost would be about $350 billion, or about three years of averaged war funding. (Admittedly, the issue is more complex than pure dollars, but it is an interesting bit of trivia, nonetheless.)
 
Accepting the biodiesel emphasis for what it is, leaves an informative and engaging documentary. It raises interesting questions worth considering, and it’s worth seeing even for those who consider themselves pretty well informed on alternative fuel issues.

—Eric Evarts

Audi, MIT develops dashboard robot AIDA as a mobile assistant

Lots of people talk to their cars—even if few admit it. So far those conversations are pretty one-sided, with the exception being a voice-recognition navigation system. That may one day change. Exploring the potential for future man-machine interaction, Audi has teamed with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop an interactive robot that not only talks back, but can also learn your driving habits, help you navigate, and even warn you of danger approaching.
 
Nicknamed AIDA, for Affective Intelligent Driving Agent, this robot  sprouts up from the top of the dashboard, smiles, frowns, and tilts its “head” to convey emotion. It is like having your own in-car Wall-E. So if the MMI isn’t enough of a distraction, here comes AIDA.
 
Researchers at MIT say that within a week of driving AIDA will learn where you live, where you work, and the route you take in between. If that route is congested, it will suggest alternate routes. If the car is low on gas, it will suggest you travel through the cheapest gas station along the route. Within a month, it will learn where you like to shop, and can route you by the grocery store.
 
AIDA can be more than a frivolous companion, though. Using forward radar, electronic stability control and other sensors, AIDA can warn of possible collisions and advise you on how to avoid them. The system’s virtual eyes merge into a cyclops – a single circle of dots surrounding a red warning triangle. And by choosing the shortest routes and avoiding traffic, it can save gas.
 
Having your car look after you, however, strikes some as “nannying.” Further, depending on how well AIDA can keep secrets, there may be a way for others to know where you’ve driven, including a spouse or car thief.
 
Should mobile assistant technology advance, those old jokes about the car knowing its own way on familiar routes may become all too true. However, AIDA is unlikely to appear on production cars any time soon.
 
Would you want AIDA for a copilot? Share your thoughts in the comments.
 
—Eric Evarts

Toyota safety recall notices arrive in owners’ mailboxes

Late September, Toyota Motor Sales issued advice online for Lexus and Toyota vehicle owners to remove their floor mats pending further investigation into sudden acceleration complaints. As promised, the automaker has sent notifications by mail detailing the risks and corrective measures for owners.

The impacted vehicles identified by Toyota include:

2005 - 2010 Toyota Avalon
2007 - 2010 Toyota Camry
2004 - 2009 Toyota Prius
2005 - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
2007 - 2010 Toyota Tundra
2007 - 2010 Lexus ES350
2006 - 2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350

An “interim” notice received by a Consumer Reports staff member lists the specific, factory-approved mats for their Prius. (A sample letter can be view as a pdf.) It advises “Only install floor mats designed specifically for the model and model year.” The multi-page letter provides instructions for identifying the floor mat part number (located on the bottom of the back side of the mat) to confirm appropriate fitment.

The letter warns not to stack mats. This is particularly important with the approach of winter, as many motorists want to install all-weather mats. Such mats are designed to better hold water and debris, and therefore are generally thicker. As with all mats, again, only install models specifically designed for your vehicle.
 
A key concern is that a mat may interfere with the accelerator or brake pedal. These pedals should move freely without touching a mat.
 
The bottom-line advice from Toyota is to “take out any removable driver’s floor mat and not replace it… until the campaign remedy is ready and implemented on your vehicle.”
 
Toyota will notify owners as soon as a remedy is available. And as we have reported separately, there is an indication that they are looking beyond the floor mats to a possible change to the accelerator pedals. (Read: “Toyota may address gas pedals in acceleration recall.”)
 
Be prepared in case of sudden acceleration on a Lexus, Toyota, or model from any other brand by reading these steps from Toyota, and our test-based advice:
Putting a car in Neutral might save your life
Putting stuck floor mat survival strategies to the test

For more information, visit Toyota.com/floormats.
 
Learn about safety technologies in our car safety section.
 

—Jeff Bartlett

Related:
Gas-pedal inspection shows most do not pivot
More than floor mats: NHTSA report gives more details on Lexus crash
Floor mat survey reveals problem with all-weather mats
Toyota and Lexus floor mat recall is official
Toyota advises 3.8 million Lexus and Toyota owners to remove floor mats
Misaligned floor mat may have caused calamity

Toyota may shorten gas pedals in acceleration recall

Toyota will reportedly offer to shorten gas pedals in up to four million of its vehicles, following the company’s largest recall in history for unintended acceleration. This latest solution, following a recall last month asking owners to remove the floor mats in their vehicles, was reported by the Kyodo News and further covered by Reuters.
 
In a Consumer Reports interview, Toyota Communications Manager for Safety and Quality Brian Lyons called the reports “unsubstantiated.” He said, “We are still developing vehicle-based remedies and still in open discussions with NHTSA, but we’re not ready to announce anything.”

After the floor mat recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) insisted that Toyota do more to address the design flaws in the vehicle that were contributing to the problem. Such criticisms included designs that NHTSA says make it difficult for drivers to stop the car in the event of unintended acceleration.
 
In the 1980s, Audi found itself scrutinized for a series of unintended acceleration incidents. Its recall solution was to move the gas and brake pedals farther apart and to install the first brake-shift-interlock, a device that prevents the transmission from being shifted out of park unless the brake pedal is depressed.
 
Toyota has blamed floor mats getting stuck and jamming the accelerator pedals to the floor in some accidents. (Read “Misaligned floor mat may have caused calamity.”) If this is a primary cause for the reported sudden acceleration complaints, raising the gas pedal higher off the floor (up toward the driver’s toes) may help alleviate that problem. However, NHTSA said that the investigation into the cause(s) isn’t over.

—Eric Evarts

Related:
Gas-pedal inspection shows most do not pivot
More than floor mats: NHTSA report gives more details on Lexus crash
Putting a car in Neutral might save your life
Putting stuck floor mat survival strategies to the test
Floor mat survey reveals problem with all-weather mats
Toyota and Lexus floor mat recall is official
Toyota advises 3.8 million Lexus and Toyota owners to remove floor mats
Misaligned floor mat may have caused calamity

Video: New handheld hiking GPS ratings

We have updated our handheld hiking GPS ratings with the addition of the Delorme Earthmate PN-30 and Garmin Dakota 10 devices. We had previewed the Delorme last year, when we were developing our ratings and buying advice, but the device reached the market after our project had been completed. The Garmin Dakota is a new device, just recently introduced.
 
The Delorme Earthmate PN-30 is the middle unit in the Earthmate line, providing the basic guidance needed for hiking and geocaching, with the ability to add maps. It includes 1:100k topography maps, and the unit can be updated with aerial imagery, akin to Google’s “satellite” map view. Although a newer unit, it has a dated feel compared to some Garmin units, with a smaller screen and display text for menus. There is a camouflaged version offered, though we would caution against that, as it would make the device harder to find should it be dropped or left behind by accident.
 
The Dakota 10 is the base model of a new line that is essentially a ¾-scale version of the touchscreen Oregon series. The Dakota 10 is easy to use, with an appealing display and intuitive menu structure. It can also be expanded with further maps.
 
Both units do not have a barometric altimeter or electronic compass, as found on higher-end models.
 
With the addition of these new units, we now have nine popular handheld devices in our ratings table, each with a product page, specifications, user reviews, and a Price & Shop feature.
 
Handheld hiking devices can lead you on adventures, exploring the wilderness with confidence or pursuing geocaches on an electronic treasure hunt. And they can make great gifts.

When reading through the ratings and buying advice, consider how the hiking device would be used and resist the temptation to overspend for features that may not be worthwhile. In our testing, we found some inexpensive units can work quite well, admittedly sacrificing screen size and some ease of use. On the other hand, such affordable models can often be lighter and more packable.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

—Jeff Bartlett

2010 Subaru Legacy performs better in IIHS bumper test

Bumper durability has improved significantly with the redesigned 2010 Subaru Legacy, leading to lower repair costs, based on recent tests by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS). Shown to the right, the latest Legacy earned an Acceptable rating based on IIHS tests of how well the front, front corner, rear, and rear corner bumpers withstand everyday fender-benders. The Legacy’s 2010 predecessor, the 2007-2009 versions, had previously rated Poor on this test, and sustained more than $4,000 in damage. The 2010 model sustained less than $900.
 
The IIHS rates bumpers Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor based on 6 mph front and rear impact and 3 mph corner impact. Vehicles are run into a steel barrier that has a plastic absorber and flexible cover to simulate a car’s energy absorber and plastic bumper cover. The biggest improvement for the Legacy was in the front impact test. The difference is that the 2010 Legacy's front reinforcement bar is taller, about six inches wider, and more than an inch higher off the ground. This prevented the bumper from sliding under the barrier during the test.
 
The Legacy is only the fifth car to get an acceptable rating in the bumper test. The others are the Ford Focus, Mazda6, Scion xB, and Smart ForTwo. All but two of 17 midsized cars rated Marginal or Poor for bumper protection. No car has yet earned a good rating. (Read: “IIHS midsized sedan bumper test–None rated Good.”)
 
This IIHS bumper test does not measure safety, just repair costs. The Legacy earned the Top Safety Pick designation with a good performance in front, side, and rear tests.
 
Over 300 crash tests conducted by IIHS can be seen in our crash test video player. Also, videos on current-generation vehicles are now available from the model overview pages (for subscribers).
 
Learn more about car safety.
 
—Maggie Shader

Chrysler disbands ENVI electric car group

At last year’s LA and Detroit auto show, back when it was owned by Cerberus Capital Management, Chrysler’s concept cars were all electric, including a battery-powered Town & Country minivan, 200C sedan, Dodge sports car, and Jeep Patriot. The message was clear: electric cars would were to play a key role in the company’s future.
 
Now that the company has been bought by Fiat, it has announced new product plans that  focus on improving its conventional cars. (See "Chrysler’s business plan: The Fiat platforms.") Consumer Reports was not able to recommend a single Chrysler model from 2007 or 2008. For 2009, we were finally able to recommend the redesigned Dodge Ram pickup. (See “Detroit report cards.”)
 
Now Chrysler has emphasized its fresh product plans by disbanding its electric vehicle division, ENVI (short for environmental), announced last year. Chrysler says its electric car development will now be rolled into its standard product development, according to Reuters.

In Chrysler’s future product plan presentation earlier this month, company Chairman Sergio Marchionne said electric cars are expected to account for less than two percent of Chrysler’s sales by 2014, far less than the 300,000 envisioned under ENVI.
 
—Eric Evarts

Video: New GPS navigation buying guide

As we have often said, the portable navigation device (PND) market is fast moving, with innovations and new products appearing every few months. In particular, we have seen a dramatic increase in the quantity and quality of cell-phone based navigation solutions just since summer. (See our iPhone navigation app reviews.) While we have been busy testing the significant devices and software as they become available, it was time to update our GPS buying guide video to reflect these new products and trends, as well.
 
In this video, we highlight key considerations for GPS buyers and share our related buying advice. Seeing features demonstrated and explained in the video may help in making the right choice for you. Also shown is our GPS product selector tool, which allows online subscribers to quickly sort and filter our vast ratings to show the models that best suit your needs and budget. There are almost 300 GPS navigators in the tool currently. If you find products of interest, you can move on to the product pages for detailed information, or use the pricing tool to compare prices through approved, safe vendors in an ad-free environment.
 
When it comes to shopping for a navigator, the right place to go is the Consumer Reports GPS buying guide.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

  —Jeff Bartlett