Toyota sub-compacts last in crash tests

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Toyota cars and trucks helped set U.S. auto safety standards but recent crash tests of new subcompact sedans came in dead last, reports say.

The 2007 models of Toyota's basic Yaris sedan and its boxy Scion xB wagon, growing in popularity as motorists seek better gas mileage, received the lowest scores as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated so-called mini-cars from five automakers for the first time, the Los Angeles Times said.

Nissan's subcompact Versa received the insurance institute's top rating.

However, institute President Adrian Lund said none of the cars tested provided stellar protection when hit by larger vehicles.

Analyst Eric Noble said Toyota erred in bringing over small cars designed for the Japanese market where cars and trucks are much smaller than those in the United States.