Crash Tests Determine Toyota Prius Expensive to Repair
Comments OffThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated Toyota Prius among the most expensive small cars to repair after a low-speed impact. Eighteen of twenty cars subjected to the same series of tests boasted less expensive repair costs than the Prius.
The world’s most popular hybrid car, Toyota Prius, didn’t fare so well in a recent series of crash tests performed on small cars by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Of the twenty cars tested by the Institute the poor performance of the Prius netted it a spot at the bottom of the roster, just ahead of the VW Rabbit.
What the test confirmed for Prius owners is this … if a Prius suffers a minor bump, such as a light tap in a parking lot at less than six-mph, bills at the auto body repair shop could be staggering – higher than they would be if the owner had chosen to drive any of the other small cars that were tested, sans the Rabbit.
The total damage suffered by the Prius in four low-speed crashes – two of them at 3mph and another pair at 6mph – was $9,070, nearly the same amount as the damage estimates for repairing most luxury cars in a similar series of IIHS crash tests last year. IIHS believes cars should not suffer damage from minor low-speed impacts such as those mimicked by the crash tests.
Hybrid Car Repairs Cost Consumers More Money
If you want to drive a hybrid car, the latest nationwide Mitchell Industry Trends Report (Q3 2008) says hold on to your wallet. When repairs are necessary you will have to dig deeper into your pocket to pay than you would if you drove an equivalent car in a gasoline version. Access the full report here.