If you’re driving a Toyota Prius V outfitted with LED lights, you can breathe a sigh of relief: According to a new study of auto headlights, it’s the only midsize vehicle to get the top rating of “good” in a study of how 31 different cars light the road at night. For example, halogen headlights for the standard four-door Honda Accord were “acceptable”, but the LED or halogen lights for two pricier Mercedes-Benz models were “poor”. The best performer was the Toyota Prius V. In fact, the Prius V, which is equipped with LED lights, is the only vehicle tested that earned a “Good” rating.
Advertisement
Altogether, 44 of the 82 possible options qualified as poor, with the halogen-light model on the BMW 3 Series posting the worst performance overall. “Helping drivers see the road better at night can help cut into those deaths and injuries”. The Prius regular halogen lights without high-beam assist scored “poor”. The IIHS says auto makers are already paying attention to the tests. The Cadillac ATS, Kia Optima, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class all earned poor ratings even when equipped with adaptive low and high beams.
It’s worth noting that the ratings were based on optional equipment for some vehicles. “A better choice for the same vehicle is an LED curve-adaptive system with high-beam assist, a combination that rates marginal”, said IIHS.
“While we are disappointed with the results of the IIHS headlight test”, Kiehne said, “we remain confident that we offer our customers very effective headlight systems at a variety of price points”. Testers used a device that measures the light from low and high beams as vehicles were driven straight and on curves.
Could your vehicle’s headlights be putting your family at risk? “Government standards for headlights allow a wide range of illumination down the road”.
Glare was also tested.
The headlights on your auto might not be as good as you think, according to a new study released overnight. On all tests, the IIHS considers an optimal distance required for a driver traveling at 65 miles per hour to spot an obstacle in his or her lane and brake to a complete stop.
The IIHS explains that the lighting systems were evaluated after dark and on a track within its Vehicle Research Centre.
Surprisingly, the headlights on the more affordable Honda Accord received an acceptable rating.
Advertisement
They were surprised to find how much headlights varied from the base model to higher trim or accessory packages, Zuby said.
