2012 Toyota Camry Earns NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Rating

The 2012 Toyota Camry has earned the highest rating – five stars – for overall safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency said Tuesday. The all-new Camry earned the top rating under stricter new crash-test guidelines, getting four stars in the frontal test, five stars in the side test, and four stars in the rollover test.

NHTSA introduced tougher crash tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings with the 2011 model year. The new series of tests, called the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), includes frontal barrier and rollover crash tests as well as a combined side barrier and side pole test. The side pole test, which is new, simulates a 20-mph side impact crash into a 10-inch diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side. An overall rating of up to five stars is then assigned.