The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the US has revealed its first-ever headlight ratings. A total of 82 headlight variants were tested from 31 different midsize models in the country, and believe it or not, just one car managed to walk away with a “good” score.
Which car do you think that was? The W205 Mercedes-Benz C-Class with its Intelligent Light System? The BMW 3 Series with its new full-LED headlights? Surprisingly, all lighting variations for the pricey C-Class fell into the “poor” category while the 3er’s top-shelf LEDs were only good enough for a “marginal” rating.
The only car to achieve a “good” score was the Toyota Prius v, equipped with its optional LED lighting and high-beam assist. A total of 11 cars fell into the “acceptable” category, with nine in “marginal” and 10 in “poor.”
“The Prius v’s LED low beams should give a driver traveling straight at 70 mp/h (112 km/h) enough time to identify an obstacle on the right side of the road, where the light is best, and brake to a stop,” said Matthew Brumbelow, an IIHS senior research engineer. However, when equipped with its base-spec halogen bulbs, the Prius fell right into the “poor” category.
The IIHS explains that the lighting systems were evaluated after dark and on a track within its Vehicle Research Centre. Using a special light measurement tool, low and high beams were tested on five different approaches — traveling straight, a sharp left curve, a sharp right curve, a gradual left curve and a gradual right curve.
While many of the cars were equipped with vertically adjustable headlights, the IIHS said that it preferred to test cars “as received from the dealer.” It does so on the belief that drivers just don’t take the time to manually adjust the vertical aim of their beams, and that manufacturers advise against it anyway.
Which headlights were the worst, you ask? Well, look no further than the BMW 3 Series’ halogen bulbs. The IIHS says that when it’s dark, a driver with those headlights would have to be going 35 mp/h (56 km/h) or slower to stop in time for an obstacle in the travel lane. Thankfully, all BMW 3 Series variants in Malaysia are equipped with LED lighting as standard.
While curve-adaptive lighting systems appear to be a premium option, the IIHS says that these systems aren’t always the most helpful – especially to other drivers on the road. In the case of the Kia Optima, for example, its curve-adaptive lighting offered better road illumination for drivers, but created a significant amount of blinding glare for oncoming vehicles — despite being on its low beams.
On a stranger note, the Honda Accord’s LED system with high-beam assist scored a “marginal” rating while its basic halogen lights actually scored better, moving it up into the “acceptable” category. However, keep in mind that all of the models mentioned and tested here belong to the US-market. Right-hand drive variants may have differing results.
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poor rating C-Class. Mercedes must recall
The US has different criterias that differ from other parts of the world. Therefore their surveys are not very accurate in real world situations. Mercedes and BMW lights have greater range and less glare than the aftermarket type DRLs and LEDs that are now standard equipment in cars like the Prius and other Japanese makes.
Its the same as how the Americans view Ford and GM vehicles as well crafted and wonderfully made, despite the rest of the world not agreeing to those views. So, not all surveys are relevant to us in Malaysia.
In Malaysia we need a special spotlight on top of our cars facing on the road. Cause in Malaysia, no matter what intelligent headlight you use, our potholes are so many, we need this special flood spotlight.
no need headlight… all myvi owner just need their fog light.
I did find Honda’s LED lights to be very annoying, especially installed on higher ground clearance vehicles like the CRV and HRV.
I’m not sure if they had a problem with the factory aim (looks like it) or the lack of auto adjustment.
They are aimed too high (or perhaps due to vehicle rear loading) blinding oncoming vehicles and those in front. These LED units throw out a lot of light, so an improper aim can be very blinding. I once stopped a CRV driver and informed her of the headlight issue but she was oblivious to the issue. But she did end up flicking on/off her HighBeam thinking she left her high beams on.
I was driving a high riding MPV myself so for the low beams to annoy me, it has to be said the aim was properly wrong.
I made a complaint on Honda’s Facebook page and quite a number of other FB users concurred, but until now, I did not receive any feed back from Honda from the FB post.
We onlu want blink blink DRL led on both day and night time. We dont care about safety. Just make sure the LED on our car look special and different fron other cars.
wait for more people dead in accident, social media outcry then only Gov/Miro’s will start say something…. But action? Your guess are better than mine….. It’s just NATO as usual… Malaysia Boleh!!!
Some even park squarely facing an eating mall and not bothered to quickly switch-off them blinding lights!
Meanwhile in Malaysia we have Myvi and Vios owners who wanna look cool and change to aftermarket xenon headlights which blind other drivers without actually improving illumination, for the sake of having a white light instead of yellow.
But, i am using LED instead of Xenon or HID. Does that count? :p