The Rav4 Plug-In 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 Leaf 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.
The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid and Leaf have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers optional Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Leaf’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.
Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid and the Leaf 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available 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 Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Nissan Leaf:
|
Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid |
Leaf |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
Chest Compression |
.5 inches |
.6 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
33.8% |
49% |
Neck Stress |
195 lbs. |
233 lbs. |
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, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Nissan Leaf:
|
Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid |
Leaf |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
69 |
131 |
Chest Movement |
.5 inches |
.8 inches |
Abdominal Force |
76 lbs. |
137 lbs. |
Hip Force |
196 lbs. |
377 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
103 |
257 |
Spine Acceleration |
46 G’s |
48 G’s |
Hip Force |
457 lbs. |
887 lbs. |
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 Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Leaf:
|
Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid |
Leaf |
Overall Evaluation |
ACCEPTABLE |
ACCEPTABLE |
Structure |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
120 |
211 |
Neck Tension |
134 lbs. |
201 lbs. |
Torso |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Shoulder Deflection |
.47 in |
1.14 in |
Shoulder Force |
178 lbs. |
245 lbs. |
Pelvis |
ACCEPTABLE |
ACCEPTABLE |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Torso |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Shoulder Deflection |
.94 in |
1.54 in |
Shoulder Force |
290 lbs. |
335 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
.83 in |
1.38 in |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Pelvis Force |
692 lbs. |
937 lbs. |