On May 27, 2024, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the National Agency for Automotive Safety and Victims’ Aid (NASVA) announced the results of the 2024 Automobile Assessment, “Automobile Safety Performance 2024,” and held the Automobile Assessment Awards Ceremony to recognize vehicles with outstanding results. Among these, Toyota’s Crown Sedan was awarded the Five Star Grand Prize, the highest honor.
When choosing a car, safety is becoming increasingly important, along with design, driving performance, and fuel economy. Performance that protects passengers and pedestrians in the event of an accident, as well as technology that prevents accidents before they occur, are essential conditions for living a safe and secure car life.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the outstanding safety of the Crown Sedan, which won the Five-Star Grand Prize, based on the results of the “Automobile Safety Performance 2024” survey, as well as other notable models that received the Five-Star Award, and the evaluation content and importance of the automobile assessment. Please read to the end as this is the definitive guide for choosing a safe car.
What is the “Automobile Safety Performance” Assessment? The Evaluation System and Its Importance
First, let’s understand what the Japan New Car Assessment Program (JNCAP) is, its overview, and its significance.
A fair and neutral evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and NASVA
The Automobile Assessment is an automobile safety performance evaluation project jointly implemented by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the National Agency for Automotive Safety and Victims’ Aid (NASV) under its guidance. The objectives are to create an environment in which users can easily select safe cars, and to promote the development of even safer cars by automakers.
The IAEA purchases commercially available automobiles and conducts crash tests and preventive safety performance tests under various conditions to objectively evaluate their safety and publish the results. This information is not only an important indicator for consumers when choosing a car, but also an opportunity for manufacturers to promote the safety of their products, encouraging competition in the development of further safety technologies.
The evaluation is broadly divided into three areas:
Vehicle safety performance is evaluated mainly in the following three major areas, and the results of each evaluation are combined to determine the highest rating, such as “Five Stars (★★★★★)”.
- Preventive safety performance evaluation:
- Collision mitigation braking (against vehicles, pedestrians [daytime and nighttime], and bicycles [daytime and nighttime])
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)/Lane Departure Mitigation (LKA)
- Rear view information providing device (back camera, etc.)
- Acceleration suppression device when pedal is accidentally pressed
- High-performance headlights (adaptive headlights, etc.)
- These devices are evaluated to see how effectively they function to prevent accidents. In recent years, there has been a particular trend toward emphasis on the performance of collision damage mitigation braking systems for pedestrians and cyclists at night.
- Collision safety performance evaluation:
- Occupant protection performance:
- Full-wrap frontal collision test (driver’s seat and passenger seat)
- Offset frontal collision test (driver’s seat)
- Side impact test (driver’s seat)
- Rear-end collision neck protection test (evaluation of whiplash injuries, driver’s seat and passenger seat)
- Pedestrian protection performance:
- Head protection performance test
- Leg protection performance test
- Seat belt warning (all seats)
- In the unlikely event of an accident, the system evaluates how much injury to passengers and pedestrians can be reduced. Detailed injury levels are measured based on data from sensors installed in the dummy.
- Occupant protection performance:
- Accident automatic emergency notification system rating:
- We will evaluate the installation status and functionality of the system that automatically notifies emergency personnel in the event of an accident (linked airbag deployment, manual notification function, etc.). This is an important function that leads to early rescue operations.
These evaluation items are scored comprehensively, and a rating is given based on the total score, such as the “Five Star Award (★★★★★)” or “Four Star Award (★★★★).” The vehicle with the highest overall score in that year is awarded the highest honor, the “Five Star Grand Prize.”
The Toyota Crown Sedan wins the prestigious “Five Star Award”! The secret behind its outstanding safety performance
In the 2024 Automobile Assessment, the Crown Sedan, one of Toyota’s flagship models, came out on top among the many vehicles assessed. It received 83.78 points (out of a total of 85.8) for preventive safety, 95.52 points (out of a total of 100) for collision safety, and 8 points (out of a total of 8) for its automatic accident emergency reporting system. It received an extremely high overall score of 184.30 points (out of a total of 193.8), earning it the splendid “Five Star Award.”
Why did the Crown Sedan receive the highest score?
The Crown Sedan was able to receive the highest score thanks to Toyota’s long-standing pursuit of safety technology and proactive adoption of the latest technologies. Particularly highly praised was its technology for reducing pedestrian injuries in the event of a personal injury accident.
- Pedestrian injury reduction body structure: The front of the vehicle, such as the hood, fenders, and bumpers, are designed to easily absorb impacts. This effectively disperses and absorbs the impact energy on pedestrians in the event of a collision, minimizing damage to their heads and legs. This reflects the company’s philosophy of minimizing damage in the event of an accident.
- Adoption of pop-up hood system: This revolutionary system instantly lifts the rear end of the engine hood when it detects a collision with a pedestrian. By creating a space between the hood and hard parts in the engine compartment, it prevents the pedestrian’s head from directly hitting hard parts such as the engine, significantly reducing the impact on the head. This technology was particularly important in achieving excellent results in pedestrian head protection performance tests.
In addition to these pedestrian protection technologies, the Crown Sedan comes standard with Toyota’s advanced safety technology package, “Toyota Safety Sense” (contents vary depending on grade). This includes the following features:
- Pre-Collision Safety (PCS): Detects vehicles, pedestrians (day and night), cyclists (day and night), and motorcycles (daytime), and if it determines that a collision is likely, it will issue an alarm or apply brake control to help avoid a collision or mitigate damage.
- Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)/Lane Departure Alert (LDA): Assists with steering to keep the vehicle in the center of the lane, and issues a warning and applies steering control if the vehicle is about to depart from the lane.
- Radar cruise control (with full-speed following function): Assists in following the vehicle ahead while maintaining a safe distance.
- Adaptive High Beam System (AHS)/Automatic High Beam (AHB): Detects preceding and oncoming vehicles and automatically adjusts or switches the high beam range to improve nighttime visibility.
- Road Sign Assist (RSA): Helps prevent drivers from missing road signs by using a camera to recognize them and displaying them on the display.
It can be said that the high-level fusion of these diverse preventive safety technologies and collision safety technologies, represented by a robust body structure, led to the Crown Sedan winning the Five-Star Grand Prize.
Toyota’s unwavering philosophy for safety: “Making safe cars”
Toyota has long pursued the creation of safe cars, with the ultimate goal of “zero traffic fatalities and injuries.” At the heart of this is the philosophy of “human-centered car manufacturing,” which places the highest priority on the safety of not only the driver, but also all people involved with the car, including passengers and pedestrians.
The Crown Sedan’s receiving the Five Star Award is proof that Toyota’s sincere efforts toward safety have been objectively and highly evaluated by a third-party organization.
Other noteworthy vehicles that received the Five Star Award
In addition to the Crown Sedan, three other models received the highest rating of the Five Star Award in the “Automobile Safety Performance 2024” standard. These models have also been proven to have extremely high levels of safety performance.
Mazda CX-80
- Mazda CX-80: Mazda’s new three-row seat SUV, the CX-80. Based on its “human-centered safety philosophy,” Mazda is equipped with i-ACTIVSENSE safety technology, which provides comprehensive support from hazard recognition to collision avoidance and damage mitigation. The CX-80 also inherits this philosophy, providing a safe driving environment for the driver while also enhancing occupant and pedestrian protection in the event of an accident. The car was praised for ensuring a high level of safety despite being an SUV with a spacious interior.
- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Civic: The Honda Civic has a long history as a global strategic vehicle. The current model comes standard with the advanced safety driver support system “Honda SENSING.” It supports the driver with a variety of functions, including Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS). Honda’s proprietary collision safety technology, “G-CON,” also provides high levels of occupant protection in terms of collision safety performance. Its appeal lies in its sporty driving and reliable safety.
- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. WR-V: The new compact SUV “WR-V” was introduced to the Japanese market in 2024. This vehicle also comes equipped with “Honda SENSING,” and is packed with safety features despite its compact size. It received a Five Star Award for its ease of use in everyday life and peace of mind. It supports safe driving in a wide range of situations, from urban driving to leisure activities.
Honda Civic
HONDA WR-V
These Five Star Award-winning vehicles are models that incorporate the best of each manufacturer’s safety technology, providing users with a high level of peace of mind.
Other vehicles evaluated in 2024
In addition to the Five Star Award-winning vehicles mentioned above, the following models were also evaluated in this year’s “Automobile Safety Performance 2024.”
- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Freed: The Honda Freed is a popular compact minivan. It is also popular among families, who are highly interested in its safety features. Equipped with Honda SENSING, the car aims to be a car that the whole family can ride in with peace of mind.
- Suzuki Front: The new compact SUV “Front” from Suzuki is equipped with Suzuki’s preventive safety technology “Suzuki Safety Support,” which aims to achieve both ease of driving and safety.
These models also meet certain safety standards and are equipped with safety features appropriate to their respective characteristics. Although they did not receive a five-star award, this information is important for users to consider when comparing safety features.
Why is Vehicle Assessment Important to Us?
The results of vehicle assessments do more than just tell us which cars are safe; they have significant implications for us as consumers, automakers, and society as a whole.
For consumers: An objective and reliable “compass for choosing a safe car”
Automotive safety technology is constantly evolving, making it difficult for anyone other than an expert to accurately grasp its details and effects. Car assessments clearly show such complex safety performance in the form of “scores” and “ranks,” allowing consumers to choose safer cars based on fair and objective information.
Being able to compare and consider actual collision safety and the effectiveness of preventive safety features, which cannot be determined from catalog specifications alone, is essential for making a smart car choice. This information will be an extremely important source of information, especially for those who often drive with their families or who feel anxious about driving.
For automakers: Increased motivation for safety technology development
Receiving high marks in automobile assessments is a great opportunity for manufacturers to prove the high level of their technological capabilities and improve their brand image. For this reason, manufacturers are conscious of the assessment criteria and are setting stricter internal standards in the fierce competition to develop safety technologies.
This healthy competition accelerates the spread of safer vehicles, ultimately contributing to improving safety standards throughout society.
For society as a whole: Contributing to reducing traffic accidents and mitigating damage
The widespread adoption of cars with high safety performance will not only reduce the number of traffic accidents, but will also help minimize damage in the unlikely event of an accident. Car assessment can be said to be one of the important efforts toward realizing such a safe motorized society.
Automobile safety technology is evolving rapidly, and as a result, the evaluation items and standards for automobile assessments are becoming more sophisticated and diverse every year.
Towards more realistic and strict evaluation criteria
In recent years, evaluations have begun to be conducted using more realistic and demanding scenarios, such as the performance of collision damage mitigation braking systems for pedestrians and cyclists at night, collision avoidance assistance technologies at more complex intersections, and systems that detect driver abnormalities and prevent accidents before they happen.
In addition, in terms of collision safety performance, test methods and evaluation standards have been revised to accommodate various collision types that are likely to occur in actual accidents.
Autonomous driving technology and new challenges in safety assessment
As Level 2 and above driver assistance technologies become more widespread and the realization of a future autonomous driving society comes into sight, it is becoming increasingly urgent to create new standards for evaluating how safely these systems function. Cybersecurity measures and responses to system abnormalities will likely become important evaluation points in the future.
Vehicle assessments must keep up with these technological advances and constantly seek out the latest and best assessment methods to maintain their reliability and effectiveness.
A word from the editorial department
In this year’s “Automobile Safety Performance 2024,” the Toyota Crown Sedan received the highest honor, the “Five Star Grand Award,” once again demonstrating its outstanding safety. Mazda’s CX-80, Honda’s Civic, and WR-V also received “Five Star Awards,” proving their high safety performance.
These results are the result of the tireless efforts of automakers to pursue safety for all road users, including not only passengers but also pedestrians, and to strive daily for technological development.
It is important for us as consumers to use the results of these car assessments as a reference to choose a safer vehicle that suits our lifestyle and intended use. Choosing a car based not only on design, price, and performance, but also on safety, will be the first step toward reducing tragic traffic accidents and realizing a safer and more secure car life and society.
Keep an eye on the automobile assessment efforts by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and NASVA, and use the latest information to make wise vehicle choices. Your choices will help shape a safe motorized society of the future.
NASVA News Release
https://www.nasva.go.jp/gaiyou/pdf/2024/20241106_1.pdf
https://www.nasva.go.jp/gaiyou/pdf/2025/20250527_1.pdf
NASVA
