Latest NCAP tests a smashing success

The new VW Jetta achieved the maximum five-star rating.

The new VW Jetta achieved the maximum five-star rating.

Published Aug 24, 2011

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If one goes by the crash test results released by EuroNCAP, the last decade has seen great strides made in terms of occupant protection with the maximum five star rating having shifted from something of a novelty to the absolute norm.

The latest batch of results released by EuroNCAP confirms this, with nine of the ten cars tested having achieved the five star gong. These include the Audi A6, BMW X3, all-new Chevrolet Aveo and Orlando, Citroen DS5, Hyundai i40, Opel Ampera (plug-in hybrid cousin of the Chevy Volt) and the VW Golf Cabriolet and Jetta.

The only car that didn't make the five-star grade was the new Kia Picanto, which achieved a four-star rating. Despite the fact that EuroNCAP describes this as being “poorer than many of its city car competitors”, the little Kia still achieved an 86 percent score for occupant protection - higher, in fact, than the five-star Opel Ampera. So the reason the Kia lost a star, no doubt, boils down to the fact that it lacks traction control as standard on the European market.

A 'most improved' award must go to the all-new SA-bound Chevrolet Aveo (which will be called Sonic on our market). Its predecessor made headlines with an abysmal struck-through two star adult occupant result. The new one, though, scored five stars and achieved good whiplash and adult occupant scores.

Some of the tested vehicles attained high scores for child occupant protection, with the Hyundai i40 and both VW Jetta and Golf Cabriolet scoring 86% here.

While many cars released continue to impress in the areas of adult and child occupant protection, pedestrian protection scores are generally still lagging behind. The Opel Ampera, Audi A6 and Citroën DS5 only just meet Euro NCAP's 2011 pedestrian requirements for a 5 star rating but none of the cars in this release would meet the more stringent 5-star requirement of 60% coming into effect in 2012.

Question is, is the average car buyer really concerned about anything but the safety of his or her own occupants and if EuroNCAP continues shifting the focus like this - how long before its results become largely irrelevant to the generally buying public?

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