A Toyota Car Returns for 2024 With a Lower Safety Rating
Toyota’s vehicles enjoy a reputation for reliability and sensibility. However, seldom do people utter the words “Toyota car” and “unsafe” in the same breath. For good reason, too; much of the Japanese marque’s lineup earns Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, from 2023 to 2024, the Toyota Crown dropped its IIHS rating from a Top Safety Pick+ to a Top Safety Pick.
The 2024 Toyota Crown still gets an IIHS Top Safety Pick, despite earning a Top Safety Pick+ the year prior
Every year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards top-scoring vehicles its highest safety ratings: a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+. It’s a reassuring consideration for car buyers looking to buy the safest rides on the market.
However, not every safety-conscious, sensible car gets a Top Safety Pick+. For 2024, the Toyota Crown, the company’s replacement for the now-discontinued Avalon car, earned a Top Safety Pick, sans “+.” It’s a lower rating than the 2023/2024 models earned for the 2023 ratings.
Really, the only blemish on the 2024 Toyota Crown’s safety scorecard is its headlight performance. Specifically, the Crown received an “Acceptable” headlight rating. Reviewers cited inadequate low-beam performance in gradual left curves. However, the “Acceptable” car safety rating is limited to the Toyota Crown XLE trim. The Crown Limited and Platinum rolled away with a “Good” headlight rating.
To earn the coveted Pick+ rating, vehicles have to receive a “Good” rating in all of the agency’s master categories. That means top marks in crashworthiness tests, active and passive crash avoidance, and child safety facilities.
Interestingly enough, the 2024 Toyota Prius earned a 2024 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. This happened, despite an “Acceptable” rating in its updated front overlap crash test. That, and an “Acceptable” overall headlight rating. It’s the same score as the 2024 Toyota Crown XLE’s lamps. However, the Crown isn’t alone in the non-plus club. The 2024 Toyota Prius, mid-size Camry sedan, Corolla hatchback, and Corolla sedan didn’t receive a Top Safety Pick+ rating.
