Everything you need to know about Toyota safety features

14 September 2020

It’s no longer enough for modern cars to have a few air-bags and ABS brakes as their safety features. Today, drivers expect much more from their vehicles when it comes to performance, efficiency – and safety. Toyota has always been at the cutting edge in-car safety technology and development, and lead the way when it comes to must-have safety features in a car, whether that’s a 4x4 Hilux or a Toyota Camry. Safety ratings from recognised testing authorities such as ENCAP consistently put Toyota in the top tier of safe cars, but what makes Toyotas so special?

Toyota Safety Sense™ - joined-up thinking when it comes to car safety

While Toyotas have always had a great reputation for car safety, they’ve taken a slightly different approach to it over the past few years. Rather than considering each safety element as a separate challenge, they’ve adopted a more ‘joined-up’ way of thinking about car safety features. The result is Toyota Safety Sense™, which incorporates several high-tech driver aids and safety features into one package that has been adopted across the range, and now comes as standard on many new models.

These are regarded as ‘active’ safety features, which means they’re incorporated into the continual running of the car and are initiated from the moment you turn the key. High-tech inclusions such as the use of radar in their Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection minimises the risk of the car impacting another car or even a pedestrian. As more people switch to two wheels to commute in the city, some models even come with a special Bicyclist Detection system too.

Cruise control

Cruise control isn’t a new idea, but Toyota has taken it a step further. The addition of a camera on the windshield adjusts your speed to ensure you’re keeping a pre-set distance from the car in front, even if the speed changes. This adaptive system reduces the possibility of a ‘shunt’, even if the vehicle in front changes speed considerably. Once the hazard is removed, the car returns to the pre-set speed.

Lane Departure Alert

On long drives, it can be easy to let your concentration wander. When that happens, the car can very quickly follow suit, and before you know it you’re wandering across two lanes, potentially putting yourself into the path of oncoming traffic. Lane Departure Alerts immediately sound when the car senses it has drifted from its lane so that you can correct your road position. In recent upgrades, this has been complemented by the addition of the Lane Tracing Assist function, which uses the lines on the road and the preceding vehicles to keep your Toyota centred and in the correct lane.

Automatic High Beam

Driving at night can be a real challenge, especially if you meet another vehicle coming from the opposite direction. If you don’t immediately dip your headlights, the oncoming driver can be dazzled, which can create a dangerous situation. Automatic High Beam uses sensors to detect headlights and taillights and adjust your high/low beam accordingly so that you don’t have to.

Other safety features

Each model has its own safety feature selection. For example, the 2020 Toyota Camry has ten airbags, driver and front passenger Whiplash-Injury-Lessening seats, child-proof rear door locks and power windows, and an energy-absorbing collapsible steering column to minimise chest injuries to the driver in the event of a ‘head-on’ collision. This means the Toyota Camry safety rating is among the best in its class.

The Toyota Hilux has a well-earned reputation for being practically indestructible. But that doesn’t mean Toyota has skimped on the Hilux safety features for drivers and passengers, with everything from Downhill Assist Control for steep descents, to Brake Assist and the full Toyota Safety Sense™ package.

Finally, the ever-popular Toyota Corolla safety features include all Toyota Safety Sense™ features, as well as eight airbags and the Star Safety System™, which includes Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-lock Brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution, and Brake Assist.

All of this makes the Toyota collection of cars some of the safest on the road for drivers, passengers, and everyone else!