This model goes from Marginal to Good+ for easy child restraint installation. https://t.co/4hfX77aqlw pic.twitter.com/KkPSOUsWhp- IIHS (@IIHS_autosafety) September 1, 2016The Toyota lineup has more IIHS Top Safety Pick awarded vehicles than any other automaker, but there was one area that was lacking.In 2015, the IIHS began rating ease-of-use for LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) systems in vehicles. Most, including the Toyota Prius, were rated as marginal, or poor. This doesn't mean the child seat anchors were less safe -- it just means child seats were harder to install.Yet, that in itself can be a big problem."Frustrating child seat installations have become a familiar rite of parenthood. Unfortunately, these frustrations lead to mistakes that can have real consequences in the event of a crash," explains Jessica Jermakian, IIHS senior research engineer.Toyota heard this feedback, and acted quickly. The timing of these tests lined up just right with the development schedule on the next-generation 2016 Prius. The design team decided to make lower anchors easier to reach with an open-access concept. The second-row seats each have a flap that lifts up to provide a large area of access to the anchors.The 2016 Prius has three easy-to-use LATCH seating positions, earning it a Good+ rating.Keep your family safer with LATCH-rated new vehicles from Estabrook Toyota Scion.
