The Rav4 Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.
Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Rav4 Hybrid (except LE/SE/Woodland) offers an optional Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.
Both the Rav4 Hybrid and Eclipse Cross offer Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Rav4 Hybrid (except LE/SE/Woodland) has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Eclipse Cross’ Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.
The Rav4 Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the Rav4 Hybrid and the Eclipse Cross have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is safer than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:
|
Rav4 Hybrid |
Eclipse Cross |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
152 |
248 |
Neck Injury Risk |
29.3% |
38.7% |
Neck Stress |
306 lbs. |
424 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
Chest Compression |
.4 inches |
.7 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
37.4% |
39.7% |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is safer than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:
|
Rav4 Hybrid |
Eclipse Cross |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
83 |
145 |
Chest Movement |
.5 inches |
.5 inches |
Abdominal Force |
138 lbs. |
154 lbs. |
Hip Force |
246 lbs. |
292 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
146 |
162 |
Spine Acceleration |
49 G’s |
55 G’s |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
14 inches |
14 inches |
HIC |
299 |
358 |
Spine Acceleration |
36 G’s |
44 G’s |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is much safer than the Eclipse Cross:
|
Rav4 Hybrid |
Eclipse Cross |
Overall Evaluation |
ACCEPTABLE |
POOR |
Structure |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
120 |
155 |
Neck Tension |
134 lbs. |
268 lbs. |
Torso |
GOOD |
POOR |
Shoulder Deflection |
.47 in |
.71 in |
Shoulder Force |
178 lbs. |
223 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.34 in |
2.28 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
7 MPH |
10 MPH |
Pelvis |
ACCEPTABLE |
MARGINAL |
Pelvis Force |
1093 lbs. |
1294 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Torso |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
Shoulder Deflection |
.94 in |
1.73 in |
Shoulder Force |
290 lbs. |
402 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
.83 in |
2.01 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
8 MPH |
11 MPH |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Rav4 Hybrid is 3% less likely to roll over than the Eclipse Cross.
For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 Hybrid the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 80 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Eclipse Cross does not qualify as a “Top Safety Pick.”