The Toyota Camry has long been recognized for its reliability and practicality, and the 2020 model year continues this tradition while also emphasizing safety. For those considering a Toyota Camry 2020, understanding its safety ratings is crucial. This article delves into the comprehensive safety evaluations conducted on the 2018-2024 Toyota Camry models, focusing on the 2020 variant, providing a detailed analysis of its performance in various crash tests and safety assessments.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap frontal test is designed to simulate a collision where the front corner of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or a stationary object. For the driver-side evaluation of the Toyota Camry 2020, the results are exceptionally positive.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
The Toyota Camry 2020 achieved a “Good” rating across all categories in the driver-side small overlap front test. This indicates robust structural integrity and excellent protection against injuries in this type of collision. Key technical measurements further illustrate the minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 2 |
| Footrest (cm) | 2 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 2 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 2 |
| Parking brake (cm) | 4 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 1 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 1 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 2 |
These measurements confirm that the structural design of the Toyota Camry 2020 effectively maintains the driver’s survival space during a small overlap frontal crash. Furthermore, driver injury measures were minimal, with low readings across Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck tension, chest compression, and femur force, all contributing to the “Good” rating.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
Extending the small overlap assessment to the passenger side, the Toyota Camry 2020 continues to demonstrate strong safety performance.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | A (Acceptable) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
While the overall and structural ratings remain “Good,” the passenger restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating. This is attributed to the dummy’s head moving too far to the right, approaching the gap between the frontal and side curtain airbags. However, the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, offering sufficient forward coverage.
Action shot during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test of the Toyota Camry 2020, showcasing airbag deployment and structural deformation.
Post-crash view of the Toyota Camry 2020 passenger side, illustrating the well-maintained survival space and minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment.
Close-up view of the passenger dummy’s head movement in the Toyota Camry 2020 passenger-side small overlap test, showing airbag contact and movement towards the gap between airbags.
Assessment of passenger leg and foot injury risk in the Toyota Camry 2020, indicating low risk due to well-maintained passenger space and effective energy absorption.
Technical measurements for the passenger side test reveal slightly more intrusion compared to the driver side, but still within acceptable limits:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 |
| Footrest (cm) | 9 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 4 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 3 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 |
| Center dash (cm) | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 3 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 4 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 3 |
Despite slightly higher intrusion measurements, passenger injury risks remained low, with “Good” ratings for all injury measures, mirroring the driver-side performance.
Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Original Evaluation
The moderate overlap frontal test represents a more traditional frontal collision scenario. The Toyota Camry 2020 once again achieved a “Good” rating across the board in this evaluation.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, left | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, right | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
The “Good” ratings signify excellent protection for the driver in a moderate overlap frontal crash. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion and driver injury metrics reinforce these ratings:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footrest (cm) | 5 |
| Left Footwell (cm) | 7 |
| Center Footwell (cm) | 6 |
| Right Footwell (cm) | 3 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 3 |
| Left Instrument panel rearward movement (cm) | 1 |
| Right Instrument panel rearward movement (cm) | 1 |
| Upward Steering column movement (cm) | -1 |
| Rearward Steering column movement (cm) | -6 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 1 |
Intrusion measurements are still relatively low, indicating a strong and protective safety cage. Driver injury measures were also minimal, with low HIC, neck forces, chest compression, and femur forces.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original and Updated Evaluations
The side impact test assesses the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in a side collision. The Toyota Camry 2020 underwent both the original and updated side impact tests.
Original Side Impact Test
In the original side impact test, the Toyota Camry 2020 performed admirably, achieving “Good” ratings in all categories.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Driver head protection | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
This comprehensive “Good” rating demonstrates excellent side impact protection for both front and rear occupants under the original test conditions.
Updated Side Impact Test
The updated side impact test is more rigorous, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed. In this more challenging test, the Toyota Camry 2020 received an overall “Poor” rating in the updated test conducted on a 2022 model built before February 2023.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | P (Poor) |
| Structure and safety cage | A (Acceptable) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | M (Marginal) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis | M (Marginal) |
| Driver head protection | M (Marginal) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | A (Acceptable) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis | P (Poor) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
While driver and rear passenger head/neck protection remained “Good,” other areas like torso, pelvis, and driver head protection were rated “Marginal” to “Poor.” The key issue was inadequate driver head protection, where the dummy’s head moved past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill.
Vehicle condition immediately after the updated side impact crash test, illustrating the impact zone and structural deformation.
View of the Toyota Camry 2020 with doors removed post-updated side impact test, highlighting side airbag deployment and damage to the occupant compartment.
Grease paint on the window sill of the Toyota Camry 2020, indicating driver dummy head contact after moving past the side curtain airbag in the updated side impact test.
Grease paint on the side airbag showing rear passenger head protection in the Toyota Camry 2020 updated side impact test, indicating effective head protection for rear occupants.
This updated test highlights a vulnerability in side impact protection, particularly for the driver’s head, in the Toyota Camry 2020 and similar models built before February 2023.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test evaluates the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The Toyota Camry 2020 achieved a “Good” rating in this test.
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,326 lbs |
| Peak force | 18,862 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.67 |
A “Good” rating signifies that the roof of the Toyota Camry 2020 is strong and provides adequate protection in rollover scenarios. The strength-to-weight ratio of 5.67 exceeds the minimum requirement, further confirming its robust roof structure.
Head Restraints and Seats
Evaluations for head restraints and seats focus on whiplash protection in rear-end collisions. The Toyota Camry 2020 received a “Good” overall rating for its head restraints & seats.
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G (Good) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G (Good) |
Both dynamic and geometric evaluations resulted in “Good” ratings, indicating effective head restraint design in the Toyota Camry 2020 to minimize whiplash injuries.
Headlights
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The Toyota Camry 2020 headlight ratings vary based on trim level.
Hybrid XLE trim with Adaptive Headlights
This trim with the Adaptive Headlights package received a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | G (Good) |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
The adaptive LED projector headlights on this trim provide good visibility on straightaways and curves, with high-beam assist further enhancing performance.
XLE, XSE, XLE V6, XSE V6, and Hybrid XLE trims (Standard LED Projector)
These trims with standard LED projector headlights received an “Acceptable” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | A (Acceptable) |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
While still rated “Acceptable,” these headlights have some limitations in curve visibility, though high-beam assist provides some compensation.
LE, SE, L, Hybrid LE, and Hybrid SE trims (Standard LED Projector)
These lower trims also received an “Acceptable” overall headlight rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | A (Acceptable) |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
Similar to the XLE/XSE trims, these standard LED projector headlights are “Acceptable” but could be improved for curve visibility, despite the presence of high-beam assist.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
Front crash prevention systems are vital for mitigating or avoiding frontal collisions. The Toyota Camry 2020 features a standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention
The Toyota Camry 2020 achieved a “Superior” rating in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|
The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests, demonstrating excellent performance in preventing vehicle-to-vehicle front crashes.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Daytime)
In pedestrian front crash prevention (daytime), the Toyota Camry 2020 received an “Advanced” rating.
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
|---|
The system showed good performance in detecting and reacting to pedestrians, particularly in crossing adult scenarios where collisions were avoided at both 12 mph and 25 mph. It also showed impact speed reduction in crossing child and parallel adult scenarios.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is important for safe child passenger transport. The Toyota Camry 2020 received a “Good + extra LATCH positions” rating for its LATCH system.
| Overall evaluation | G + extra LATCH positions |
|---|
The Toyota Camry 2020 has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors, offering flexibility and ease of use for installing child seats.
Conclusion
The Toyota Camry 2020 demonstrates strong safety performance across most crash tests and safety evaluations. It achieves “Good” ratings in small overlap front (driver and passenger side), moderate overlap front, roof strength, and head restraints & seats. While it received a “Poor” rating in the updated side impact test, it performed well in the original side impact test. Headlight ratings vary by trim, with adaptive headlights achieving “Good” and standard LED headlights rated “Acceptable.” The front crash prevention systems are “Superior” for vehicle-to-vehicle and “Advanced” for pedestrian detection. Finally, the LATCH system is rated “Good + extra LATCH positions” for child seat accommodation.
Overall, the Toyota Camry 2020 is a safe vehicle choice, particularly excelling in frontal and roof crash protection, and offering advanced front crash prevention technologies. However, potential buyers should be aware of the “Poor” performance in the updated side impact test and consider trim levels for optimal headlight performance.
