This model goes from Marginal to Good+ for easy child restraint installation. https://t.co/4hfX77aqlw pic.twitter.com/KkPSOUsWhp
— IIHS (@IIHS_autosafety) September 1, 2016
When you think of a family vehicle, you might picture a minivan, like the Sienna, or a crossover SUV like the RAV4. But having kids doesn't necessarily mean you need a massive amount of space. An efficient compact like the Toyota Prius can save you trips to the gas station, putting a little extra breathing room in your chaotic schedule.
It's also a great way to keep your family safe. The 2016 Prius earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, receiving the highest ratings in every crashworthiness test.
New to this year, the 2016 Prius is also one of the easiest vehicles on the market for installing a child safety seat.
"Frustrating child seat installations have become a familiar rite of parenthood. Unfortunately, these frustrations lead to mistakes that can have real consequences in the event of a crash," says Jessica Jermakian, an IIHS senior research engineer. Installing a safety seat correctly is critically important to making sure your child is safe while on the road, so in 2015, the IIHS added a new test category: LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) ease-of-use.
To earn a Good rating, a vehicle's LATCH system must be easy to find, maneuver around, and attach child seat connectors to. A higher tier, Good+ is awarded to vehicles with more LATCH-equipped seating positions.
"We're especially interested in making it possible for more parents to use LATCH in the second-row center position," Jermakian says. "Parents are repeatedly told that is the safest place for children to ride, so we want them to have the option of an easy installation there."
The 2016 Toyota Prius was one of only three vehicles to earn a Good+ rating.
Test drive a Prius in Plover today at Mark Toyota, and be sure to bring along the safety seat you intend to use, if you have one. Ensuring a good fit is an important part of making sure you and your family are happy with your new car.
