The 2019 Toyota Avalon marked the beginning of its fifth generation, bringing with it not just a fresh design and updated features, but also a renewed focus on safety. For prospective buyers and current owners alike, understanding the safety performance of a vehicle is paramount. This comprehensive guide dives deep into the safety ratings of the 2019 Toyota Avalon, providing a detailed analysis based on rigorous testing and industry standards.
The Toyota Avalon, a full-size sedan known for its comfort and reliability, underwent thorough evaluations to determine its crashworthiness and safety technology effectiveness. These assessments, conducted by independent organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), offer valuable insights into how the Avalon protects its occupants in various collision scenarios. Let’s explore the results of these tests to understand the safety strengths of the 2019 Toyota Avalon.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap frontal test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end, specifically the driver-side corner, impacts an object. This is a challenging test that assesses how well the car’s structure and safety systems hold up under concentrated impact forces.
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Understand Image Content: The image visually depicts a 2019 Toyota Avalon undergoing a driver-side small overlap frontal crash test. Key visual elements would likely include the deformed front end of the car after impact, safety airbags deployed, and potentially crash test dummies inside.
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Analyze Context: This section of the article discusses the driver-side small overlap test results for the 2019 Toyota Avalon. The test evaluates structural integrity and occupant protection.
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Identify Keywords: Primary keyword “2019 Toyota Avalon”, secondary keywords: “driver-side small overlap crash test”, “safety rating”, “crashworthiness”. LSI keywords: “frontal impact”, “vehicle safety”, “collision test”.
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Compose Alt Text: Aim for a concise, descriptive, and SEO-friendly alt text. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally.
Initial Draft Alt Text: “2019 Toyota Avalon driver-side small overlap crash test.” – Too short, lacks detail and full SEO potential.
Second Draft Alt Text: “Image of a 2019 Toyota Avalon undergoing a driver-side small overlap frontal crash test. Shows vehicle damage after impact.” – Better, but still could be more descriptive and keyword-rich.
Improved Alt Text: “2019 Toyota Avalon driver-side small overlap frontal crash test demonstrating ‘Good’ safety rating. View of the vehicle post-collision, highlighting structural performance in a challenging frontal impact scenario.” – Good balance of description, keywords, and SEO optimization. Mentions the positive rating, adding value.
Even Better Alt Text (incorporating LSI and more user-centric description): “2019 Toyota Avalon excels in driver-side small overlap frontal crash test. Photo illustrates the vehicle’s structural integrity after impact, part of its comprehensive safety assessment. Learn about the 2019 Avalon’s ‘Good’ rating in this crucial safety evaluation.” – More engaging and informative, encourages user interest in the safety rating.
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Final Alt Text (Example):
alt="2019 Toyota Avalon driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, achieving a 'Good' safety rating."– Concise, keyword-rich, and directly relevant to the section content.
Applying the process to other images: I would repeat this process for each image, considering its specific visual content, surrounding text, and overall article theme, always aiming for descriptive, SEO-optimized, and user-helpful alt text. For tables and charts, the alt text should summarize the data presented visually. For example, for a table of crash test ratings, the alt text could be “Table summarizing 2019 Toyota Avalon crash test ratings, showcasing ‘Good’ performance across key safety evaluations.”
By following this detailed process, I can generate effective alt text for each image, enhancing both SEO and accessibility for users. Now, I will continue generating the article content based on the user’s instructions, keeping in mind the image integration aspect even though I cannot physically insert images.iihs.org/ratings/images/small-overlap-front-driver-side/f/toyota/avalon/2019/driver-side-small-overlap-frontal-crash-test.jpg)
The 2019 Toyota Avalon underwent a driver-side small overlap frontal test, conducted by Toyota and evaluated by the IIHS. The results for this test are categorized by “Rating” and “Technical Measurements”.
Rating:
The 2019 Toyota Avalon achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, the highest rating possible. This “Good” rating extends across all subcategories:
- Structure and Safety Cage: Rated “Good”, indicating the structural integrity of the Avalon held up well during the crash.
- Driver Injury Measures: All driver injury measures also received “Good” ratings, demonstrating excellent protection across all body regions:
- Head/Neck
- Chest
- Hip/Thigh
- Lower Leg/Foot
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Rated “Good”, signifying that the restraint systems effectively controlled the dummy’s movement during the crash, minimizing injury risk.
Technical Measurements:
The technical measurements provide specific data points from the test, quantifying the intrusion into the occupant compartment and the forces experienced by the crash test dummy. Key measurements include:
- Occupant Compartment Intrusion: Minimal intrusion was recorded in the driver’s side occupant compartment, with maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar at just 2 cm. This limited intrusion contributes to the “Good” structural rating.
- Driver Injury Measures (Detailed):
- Head: Low Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) of 153 and no head contact indicate minimal risk of head injury.
- Neck: Low tension (1.3 kN) and bending moment (7 Nm) in the neck, with a low Maximum Nij of 0.21, suggest a low risk of neck injury.
- Chest: Maximum chest compression of 26 mm indicates good chest protection.
- Femur: Low femur forces (Left: 0.7 kN, Right: 0.5 kN) and minimal knee displacement (Left: 1 mm, Right: 0 mm) suggest low risk of leg injuries.
- Tibia: Maximum tibia index and axial force are within acceptable limits, indicating adequate lower leg protection.
- Foot: Foot acceleration measurements are also low, suggesting minimal foot injury risk.
Overall, the driver-side small overlap frontal test results for the 2019 Toyota Avalon demonstrate excellent crashworthiness and occupant protection. The “Good” ratings across all categories and the favorable technical measurements underscore the vehicle’s ability to perform well in this challenging frontal collision scenario.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap frontal test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates the protection offered to the front passenger. It is crucial to assess both sides as vehicle structures and safety systems may perform differently on the passenger side. For the 2019 Toyota Avalon, it’s important to note that the passenger frontal airbag design was modified for models built after September 2018 to enhance passenger protection in this specific type of crash.
The IIHS conducted separate evaluations for 2019 Avalon models built before and after this airbag modification. The ratings discussed below are for models built after September 2018, representing the improved design.
Rating:
The 2019 Toyota Avalon (built after September 2018) achieved an “Good” overall rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test, mirroring the driver-side performance. This “Good” rating is consistent across all evaluation areas:
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Structure and Safety Cage: “Good”, indicating robust structural performance on the passenger side.
- Passenger Injury Measures: All passenger injury measures earned “Good” ratings, signifying excellent protection for the front passenger:
- Head/Neck
- Chest
- Hip/Thigh
- Lower Leg/Foot
- Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: “Good”, demonstrating effective passenger-side restraint system performance.
- Driver Injury Measures & Restraints: Notably, the driver injury measures and restraints are also rated “Good” based on combined data from tests of both pre- and post-modification vehicles, indicating consistent driver protection.
Technical Measurements:
Technical measurements for the passenger-side test, specifically for the post-September 2018 models, show:
- Occupant Compartment Intrusion: Similar to the driver-side, intrusion was minimal on the passenger side, contributing to the “Good” structural rating.
- Passenger Injury Measures (Detailed):
- Head: Low HIC-15 of 184 and no head contact suggest minimal head injury risk for the passenger.
- Neck: Low neck tension (1.2 kN) and Maximum Nij (0.23) indicate a low risk of neck injury.
- Chest: Maximum chest compression of 21 mm shows good chest protection.
- Femur: Low femur forces (Left: 1.2 kN, Right: 0.9 kN) and knee displacement (Left: 4 mm, Right: 3 mm) suggest low leg injury risk.
- Tibia & Foot: Tibia index, axial force, and foot acceleration are all within safe limits, indicating good lower leg and foot protection.
Pre-September 2018 Models:
It’s important to acknowledge the rating for 2019 Toyota Avalon models built before October 2018 (note slight date discrepancy with the “after September 2018” modification timeframe, likely due to testing and reporting timelines). These earlier models received an “Acceptable” overall evaluation in the passenger-side small overlap test. While still a respectable score, the key difference was in Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics, which was rated “Marginal”. The description notes the dummy’s head “barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the right side, allowing the head to move far enough forward to hit the dashboard.” This highlights the improvement achieved with the airbag modification in later models.
For models built before October 2018, all other categories including Structure and Safety Cage and other injury measures remained “Good”, but the “Marginal” rating for passenger restraints brought the overall evaluation down to “Acceptable”.
In conclusion, for the 2019 Toyota Avalon, particularly models manufactured after September 2018, the passenger-side small overlap frontal test results are excellent, mirroring the “Good” performance of the driver-side. However, buyers of earlier 2019 models should be aware of the “Acceptable” rating and the “Marginal” performance in passenger restraints in the passenger-side small overlap test. Checking the manufacturing date (typically on the driver’s side doorjamb) is crucial to understand which rating applies.
Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap frontal test represents a more traditional frontal crash scenario, where a significant portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a deformable barrier. This test has been a standard for many years and is designed to evaluate overall frontal crashworthiness.
Rating:
The 2019 Toyota Avalon earned a “Good” overall rating in the moderate overlap frontal test. This top rating is reflected across all individual categories:
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Structure and Safety Cage: “Good”, indicating excellent structural performance in this type of frontal crash.
- Driver Injury Measures: All driver injury measures were rated “Good”:
- Head/Neck
- Chest
- Leg/Foot, Left
- Leg/Foot, Right
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: “Good”, signifying effective performance of the restraint systems in a moderate overlap frontal crash.
Technical Measurements:
The technical data from the moderate overlap test reveals:
- Occupant Compartment Intrusion: Intrusion into the footwell area was measured, with maximum intrusion at the left footwell (9 cm). However, the overall structural rating remained “Good”, suggesting this intrusion was within acceptable limits and did not compromise occupant safety significantly.
- Instrument Panel and Steering Column Movement: Minimal rearward movement of the instrument panel (Left: 2 cm, Right: 2 cm) and steering column (Rearward: -1 cm) were recorded, indicating good control of the occupant space. Upward steering column movement was slightly higher at 3 cm.
- Driver Injury Measures (Detailed):
- Head: HIC-15 of 249 and no head contact indicate low head injury risk.
- Neck: Neck tension (1.2 kN) and Maximum Nij (0.31) are within safe parameters, suggesting low neck injury risk. The extension bending moment was slightly higher at 25 Nm.
- Chest: Maximum chest compression of 27 mm indicates good chest protection.
- Legs: Femur forces (Left: 0.6 kN, Right: 1.5 kN) and knee displacement (Left: 1 mm, Right: 1 mm) are low, indicating minimal leg injury risk. Tibia index and axial forces are also within acceptable ranges.
- Foot: Foot acceleration is moderate (Left: 109 g, Right: 67 g).
The moderate overlap frontal test results for the 2019 Toyota Avalon reinforce its strong frontal crash protection. The “Good” ratings across all categories, along with detailed measurements, confirm the vehicle’s ability to effectively manage crash forces and protect the driver in a significant frontal impact.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
The side impact crash test evaluates how well a vehicle protects occupants in a side collision, a particularly dangerous type of crash due to the limited crush zone on the sides of vehicles.
Rating:
The 2019 Toyota Avalon achieved the highest rating of “Good” in the side impact crash test. This “Good” rating applies to all aspects of the evaluation:
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Structure and Safety Cage: “Good”, indicating a robust side structure.
- Driver Injury Measures: All driver injury measures received “Good” ratings:
- Head/Neck
- Torso
- Pelvis/Leg
- Driver Head Protection
- Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Similarly, all rear passenger injury measures were rated “Good”:
- Head/Neck
- Torso
- Pelvis/Leg
- Rear Passenger Head Protection
Technical Measurements:
Key technical measurements from the side impact test include:
- Occupant Compartment Intrusion: The B-pillar intrusion measurement of -22.0 cm (negative value indicates crush stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline) demonstrates excellent resistance to intrusion into the occupant space during a side impact.
- Driver Injury Measures (Detailed):
- Head: Low HIC-15 of 323 indicates minimal head injury risk.
- Neck: Low neck tension (0.7 kN) and compression (0.0 kN) suggest minimal neck injury risk.
- Shoulder: Lateral deflection (23 mm) and force (1.1 kN) are well-controlled.
- Torso: Maximum torso deflection (25 mm) and viscous criterion (0.30 m/s) are low, indicating good torso protection.
- Pelvis: Iliac force (1.4 kN), acetabulum force (1.2 kN), and combined force (2.5 kN) are within acceptable limits.
- Femur: Low femur forces and moments.
- Passenger Injury Measures (Detailed): Injury measures for the rear passenger dummy are also consistently low, mirroring the excellent driver protection.
The side impact crash test performance of the 2019 Toyota Avalon is exceptional, with “Good” ratings across the board and minimal occupant compartment intrusion. The technical measurements confirm the vehicle’s ability to effectively absorb and distribute side impact forces, providing excellent protection for both front and rear occupants in side collisions.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. A strong roof is crucial for protecting occupants in such events.
Rating:
The 2019 Toyota Avalon achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength.
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Strength-to-Weight Ratio: An impressive strength-to-weight ratio of 5.19 was achieved. This means the Avalon’s roof can withstand a force over 5 times its own weight.
- Peak Force: The roof withstood a peak force of 18,627 lbs.
The “Good” rating and high strength-to-weight ratio in the roof strength test demonstrate that the 2019 Toyota Avalon’s roof provides significant protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats play a critical role in preventing whiplash and other neck injuries in rear-end collisions.
Rating:
The 2019 Toyota Avalon received a “Good” overall rating for head restraints and seats.
- Overall Evaluation: “Good”
- Dynamic Rating: “Good”, based on simulated rear-impact testing.
- Seat/Head Restraint Geometry: “Good”, indicating proper head restraint positioning relative to the seat.
Technical Measurements:
- Geometry: Backset of 6 mm and distance below top of head of -9 mm indicate favorable head restraint geometry.
- Seat Design Parameters: Passed seat design parameter tests.
- Neck Forces: Low neck forces measured in the dynamic test.
The “Good” ratings in head restraints and seats confirm that the 2019 Toyota Avalon provides effective whiplash protection in rear-end collisions, thanks to its well-designed seats and head restraints.
Headlights
Headlight performance is a crucial safety factor, especially for nighttime driving. The IIHS evaluates headlight systems for visibility and glare. The 2019 Toyota Avalon has different headlight options depending on the trim level, resulting in different ratings.
Trim Levels with “Good” Headlight Rating:
- Limited trim
- Touring trim
- Hybrid Limited trim
These trims are equipped with LED projector headlights.
Rating:
- Overall Rating: “Good”
Performance Summary:
- Low Beams: Good visibility on straightaways and curves, with some glare noted.
- High Beams: Good visibility on straightaways and most curves. High-beam assist compensates for low beam limitations.
Technical Measurements (LED Projector Headlights): Detailed measurements are provided for illumination distance and glare levels for both low and high beams in various driving scenarios (straightaways and curves). Generally, these headlights provide adequate to good illumination distances with acceptable glare.
Trim Levels with “Poor” Headlight Rating:
- XLE trim
- Hybrid XLE trim
- XSE trim
- Hybrid XSE trim
These trims come with LED reflector headlights.
Rating:
- Overall Rating: “Poor”
Performance Summary:
- Low Beams: Inadequate visibility on straightaways and left curves, fair visibility on right curves. No glare issues.
- High Beams: Good visibility on the right side of straightaways, inadequate on the left, fair to inadequate on curves. High-beam assist helps compensate but is insufficient to raise the overall rating.
Technical Measurements (LED Reflector Headlights): Measurements show significantly shorter illumination distances compared to the LED projector headlights, particularly on the left side of the road and on curves, leading to the “Poor” rating.
The headlight ratings for the 2019 Toyota Avalon vary significantly by trim level. The LED projector headlights on higher trims achieve a “Good” rating, offering much better visibility than the “Poor” rated LED reflector headlights on lower trims. Prospective buyers should consider headlight performance, especially if they frequently drive at night, and opt for trims with the “Good” rated headlights.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are designed to help drivers avoid or mitigate frontal collisions. The IIHS tests these systems for their effectiveness in vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios.
System Details:
- Standard System: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (Toyota Safety Sense P – TSS-P)
Rating:
- Overall Evaluation: “Superior” (for 2019-21 models)
Performance Summary:
- Forward Collision Warning: Meets requirements for forward collision warning.
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): Avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
The “Superior” rating for the standard front crash prevention system on the 2019 Toyota Avalon demonstrates its high effectiveness in preventing or mitigating vehicle-to-vehicle frontal crashes. The system’s ability to avoid collisions in both test speeds highlights its robust performance.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) systems make it easier to properly install child safety seats. The IIHS evaluates the ease of use of LATCH systems.
Rating:
- Overall Evaluation: “Good + Extra LATCH positions”
LATCH Hardware:
- The 2019 Avalon has 2 rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware.
- It also has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from adjacent positions, providing extra flexibility for child seat installation.
Ease of Use:
The LATCH system is rated “Good” for ease of use, with anchors being easy to locate and maneuver around.
The “Good + Extra LATCH positions” rating indicates that the 2019 Toyota Avalon offers a user-friendly and versatile LATCH system, making it easier to securely install child safety seats in multiple rear seating positions.
Conclusion: 2019 Toyota Avalon – A Safe Choice
The comprehensive safety evaluations of the 2019 Toyota Avalon reveal a vehicle designed with a strong emphasis on occupant protection. Across a range of crash tests, including the challenging small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, and side impact tests, the Avalon consistently achieved “Good” ratings, the highest possible. Its robust structure, effective restraint systems, and well-designed safety features contribute to its excellent crashworthiness.
Particularly noteworthy is the “Superior” rating for its standard front crash prevention system, demonstrating advanced technology to help avoid accidents. The “Good” rating for head restraints and seats further emphasizes its commitment to occupant safety in rear-end collisions. Furthermore, the LATCH system earns a “Good + Extra LATCH positions” rating, highlighting its child-passenger safety focus.
The primary area for consideration is headlight performance, where ratings vary significantly by trim level. While higher trims with LED projector headlights achieve a “Good” rating, lower trims with LED reflector headlights receive a “Poor” rating. Buyers should be aware of this difference and prioritize trims with the better-rated headlights for optimal nighttime visibility.
Overall, the 2019 Toyota Avalon stands out as a safe vehicle, offering excellent crash protection and advanced safety features. Its consistently high ratings across most IIHS evaluations provide peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike, making it a strong contender in the full-size sedan segment for safety-conscious buyers. When considering a 2019 Toyota Avalon, reviewing the trim-specific headlight ratings and, for earlier 2019 models, passenger-side small overlap performance, will ensure a fully informed decision regarding this generally safe and well-regarded vehicle.
