New Cars Could Be Making a Dangerous Sacrifice for Better Gas Mileage
Alex Healey
· 3 min read
Technological advancements, better crash testing, and more
stringent safety regulations
are helping to ensure that each generation of cars is safer than the last.This is one of the main advantages to buying a
new car
, rather than an older model which will typically have a lower safety rating.However, automakers are not just incentivized by safety, with many focused on improving new cars’ green credentials too. While this is a welcome change, a study from Consumer Reports has found an unforeseen and dangerous outcome concerning hybrids.
It appears that some manufacturers are sacrificing braking distance, a key component in a car’s safety rating, in order to get better fuel economy for their vehicles. Read on to learn more.
What's the problem with hybrid cars’ braking distances?
“Braking distance” is how far a vehicle travels, from the moment its brakes are applied, to when it comes to a complete stop.
It is a critical component of car safety, as the ability to stop quickly, especially when traveling at high speed, can help prevent serious collisions.
Alarmingly, when
Consumer Reports
(CR) compared the braking distance of four hybrid Toyotas—the Corolla, the Camry, the RAV4, and the Highlander—against non-hybrid counterparts, they found the hybrids had a braking distance that was 8 to 12 feet longer.While there may be other factors in play, CR theorizes that low-rolling-resistance tires are mostly to blame. Hybrid car manufacturers use them to improve fuel economy, but in doing so, they are also sacrificing braking distance
Which hybrids are the biggest offenders?
Following the Toyota trials, CR expanded the experiment to look at other hybrid makes and models.
While the Camry was the worst offender, with a staggering 12 feet between its hybrid and non-hybrid braking distances, the Chrysler Pacifica also performed poorly. Its hybrid version needed an additional 9 feet to come to a complete stop.
At the other end of the spectrum, Ford’s hybrid models scored well, stopping just as quickly as their gas counterparts. Supporting CR’s theory that the tires are mostly to blame, a Ford spokesperson confirmed that they no longer use low-rolling-resistance tires.
The
Honda CR-V
hybrid was the best performer, stopping 4 feet shorter than the non-hybrid version. Like Ford, the Honda hybrid is equipped with regular tires, and also benefits from having larger brakes to compensate for its heavier engine.This is worrying news if you drive a Toyota hybrid, or any model with low-resistance tires, but you can improve your car’s performance by ensuring you get some better tires fitted.
Sure, you might lose a few mpg in fuel efficiency, but it will be worth it in the event of an accident.
