The Toyota Camry, a popular sedan, underwent a redesign for the 2012 model year. Significant enhancements were introduced starting with the 2014 models produced after December 2013, specifically targeting improved occupant safety in small overlap frontal crashes. These modifications involved changes to the front structure of the vehicle. It’s important to check the certification label on the driver’s side door or B-pillar of your specific vehicle to determine its manufacturing date.
Further improvements were implemented in the 2015 models, with extended side curtain airbags designed to enhance occupant protection in the same challenging small overlap frontal crash scenario. The assessment of side airbag coverage by the Institute is based on a test conducted by Toyota on a 2015 Camry. All other evaluations, ratings, and vehicle specifications discussed here are derived from an Institute test performed on a 2014 Camry manufactured after the front structure modifications were implemented.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Small overlap frontal crash test | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Acceptable |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/thigh | Good |
| Lower leg/foot | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
Action shot during a small overlap frontal crash test, highlighting vehicle deformation and safety systems engagement.
The results from the crash test provide valuable insights into the 2016 Toyota Camry’s safety performance. The dummy’s position after the test, relative to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel, is a key indicator of how well the driver’s survival space was maintained. In this test, the survival space was maintained reasonably well.
Post-crash dummy position showing survival space maintenance and airbag deployment effectiveness in the 2016 Toyota Camry.
Intrusion into the driver’s space was also assessed. Except for some deformation in the door hinge pillar and movement of the parking brake pedal, intrusion was reasonably controlled. This controlled intrusion suggests a low risk of injuries to the driver’s legs and feet in a similar real-world crash scenario.
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Controlled intrusion into the driver’s side of a 2016 Toyota Camry after a small overlap frontal crash, indicating effective safety design.
Technical measurements for this test
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEN1349 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 16 |
| Footrest (cm) | 8 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 5 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 6 |
| Parking brake (cm) | 17 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Steering column | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 8 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 10 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 9 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEN1349 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 126 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.4 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 22 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.30 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 20 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.5 |
| Right | 1.0 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 3 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.80 |
| Right | 0.40 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 3.6 |
| Right | 2.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 52 |
| Right | 35 |
