As your trusted automotive expert at Miller Toyota, I understand that safety is paramount when choosing a vehicle. For those considering a mid-size sedan, the 2019 Toyota Camry frequently emerges as a top contender. But how safe is it really? Let’s delve into the safety ratings of the 2019 Toyota Camry, providing you with a comprehensive analysis based on rigorous testing.
The Toyota Camry underwent a significant redesign for the 2018 model year, and these design enhancements carried through to the 2019 Toyota Camry models, influencing its safety performance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted a battery of tests on the Camry, evaluating its crashworthiness and safety features. Here’s a breakdown of how the 2019 Toyota Camry performed in these critical assessments.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test Performance
The small overlap frontal test simulates a collision where just the front corner of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or a stationary object. This is a particularly demanding test, focusing on the vehicle’s structural integrity and occupant protection in offset crashes.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Test
The 2019 Toyota Camry earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test. This top score indicates robust protection for the driver in this type of severe frontal impact.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good |
The technical measurements further illustrate the 2019 Toyota Camry’s performance in this test. Occupant compartment intrusion was minimal, with measurements ranging from 0 to 4 cm across various points. Crucially, driver injury measures were also low, indicating a minimal risk of significant injuries. For example, the Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) was a low 157, and chest compression was only 22mm.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Test
The 2019 Toyota Camry also achieved a “Good” overall rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test, mirroring its driver-side performance and ensuring excellent protection for front-seat passengers.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Acceptable |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good |
Notably, in the passenger-side test, while most metrics were “Good,” the passenger restraints and dummy kinematics were rated as “Acceptable.” The IIHS noted that while the dummy’s face remained in contact with the frontal airbag, its head moved too far to the right, towards a gap between the frontal and side curtain airbags. However, the side curtain airbag still deployed effectively, providing sufficient forward coverage.
Despite this “Acceptable” rating in one subcategory, the overall “Good” rating for the passenger-side small overlap test demonstrates that the 2019 Toyota Camry provides excellent crash protection for passengers in this challenging scenario. Technical measurements confirmed minimal occupant compartment intrusion and low injury measures for both passenger and driver dummies in this test.
Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Original Evaluation
In the moderate overlap frontal test, a significant portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. This test is designed to assess how well the vehicle protects occupants in a more common type of frontal collision. The 2019 Toyota Camry once again excelled, earning a “Good” rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Left | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Right | Good |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good |
The measurements from this test reveal that footwell intrusion was limited, and steering column movement was well-controlled. Driver injury measures remained low, reinforcing the 2019 Toyota Camry’s ability to protect occupants in moderate frontal crashes.
Side Impact Safety: Original and Updated Tests
Side impacts are another critical area of safety evaluation. The IIHS conducts both original and updated side impact tests. It’s important to note the distinction, as the updated test is more rigorous.
Original Side Impact Test
In the original side impact test, the 2019 Toyota Camry achieved a “Good” rating, the highest possible.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Driver Head Protection | Good |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good |
Both driver and rear passenger injury measures were rated “Good” across all categories. Technical data showed minimal B-pillar intrusion and low injury readings for all body regions assessed, demonstrating excellent side impact protection in the original test parameters.
Updated Side Impact Test: A Point of Consideration
It’s crucial to acknowledge the 2019 Toyota Camry’s performance in the updated side impact test. This updated test uses a heavier barrier and higher impact speed, making it a more demanding assessment of side crash protection. In this more stringent test, the 2019 Toyota Camry received a “Poor” overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Poor |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Acceptable |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Marginal |
| Pelvis | Marginal |
| Driver Head Protection | Marginal |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Acceptable |
| Pelvis | Poor |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good |
The “Poor” rating is primarily attributed to inadequate driver head protection. The dummy’s head moved past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill. Torso and pelvis protection for the driver were also rated as “Marginal.” While rear passenger head and neck protection remained “Good,” torso and pelvis protection were rated “Acceptable” and “Poor,” respectively.
This updated side impact test result is important for potential 2019 Toyota Camry buyers to consider. While the vehicle performed well in older side impact tests, the more stringent updated test revealed vulnerabilities, particularly in driver head protection.
Roof Strength and Head Restraints & Seats
Beyond crash tests, the IIHS evaluates roof strength and head restraints, which are crucial for rollover protection and whiplash prevention. The 2019 Toyota Camry performed admirably in these assessments.
Roof Strength
The 2019 Toyota Camry earned a “Good” rating for roof strength. The strength-to-weight ratio of 5.67 significantly exceeds the IIHS requirement, indicating excellent protection in rollover scenarios.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Curb Weight | 3,326 lbs |
| Peak Force | 18,862 lbs |
| Strength-to-Weight Ratio | 5.67 |
Head Restraints & Seats
For head restraints and seats, the 2019 Toyota Camry also received a “Good” overall rating, both for dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry. This indicates effective whiplash protection in rear-end collisions.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Dynamic Rating | Good |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | Good |
Headlight Performance
Headlight effectiveness is a key safety feature, particularly for nighttime driving. The 2019 Toyota Camry offers different headlight variations across its trim levels, and their ratings vary.
The Hybrid XLE trim with the Adaptive Headlights package earned a “Good” rating, offering superior visibility in various driving conditions.
Other trims, including XLE, XSE, and LE trims, equipped with LED projector headlights but without the adaptive feature, received an “Acceptable” rating. While still performing adequately, their visibility, particularly on curves, was not as strong as the adaptive headlights.
It’s worth noting that all headlight variations tested on the 2019 Toyota Camry benefited from high-beam assist, which compensates for some limitations of the low beams.
Front Crash Prevention Systems
Active safety features play an increasingly important role in preventing crashes. The 2019 Toyota Camry comes standard with a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention
The 2019 Toyota Camry’s standard front crash prevention system earned a “Superior” rating in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. It successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests and meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Daytime)
In daytime pedestrian front crash prevention testing, the 2019 Toyota Camry achieved an “Advanced” rating. The system avoided collisions with an adult crossing and an adult parallel to the road in certain scenarios and significantly reduced impact speed in others. However, in the “Crossing Child” scenario, impact speed was reduced but not avoided.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat anchor accessibility is crucial. The 2019 Toyota Camry earned a “Good+” rating for its LATCH system, indicating ease of use and availability of extra LATCH positions. It has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position where lower anchors can be borrowed.
Conclusion: 2019 Toyota Camry Safety – A Balanced Perspective
The 2019 Toyota Camry demonstrates a strong commitment to safety, achieving top “Good” ratings in many IIHS crash tests, including small overlap front (driver and passenger sides), moderate overlap front, roof strength, and head restraints & seats. Its front crash prevention systems are rated “Superior” for vehicle-to-vehicle and “Advanced” for pedestrian detection. The headlight ratings range from “Acceptable” to “Good” depending on the trim.
However, the “Poor” rating in the updated side impact test is a critical point to consider. While the 2019 Toyota Camry offers robust protection in many crash scenarios, the updated side impact test highlights a potential vulnerability, particularly concerning driver head protection in severe side collisions.
As your experts at Miller Toyota, we recommend carefully considering these safety ratings in the context of your individual needs and driving environment. The 2019 Toyota Camry remains a safe and reliable vehicle, but understanding its performance in both standard and updated safety tests is essential for making an informed decision.
