Euro NCAP, the independent organization responsible for evaluating the safety of new models on the European market, presented the results for nine models at a glance. They are the Ford Fiesta, the Jeep Compass, the Kia Picanto, the Kia Rio, the Mazda CX-5, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet, the Opel Grandland X, the electric Opel Ampera-e and, finally, the Renault Koleos.
In this round of testing the results were overall quite positive, with most achieving five stars – with a few caveats, but we're off. The models that managed to obtain the desired five stars were the Ford Fiesta, the Jeep Compass, the Mazda CX-5, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet, the Opel Grandland X and the Renault Koleos.
The five stars were achieved thanks to a good balance between the vehicle's structural integrity, the passive safety equipment and also active safety, such as the availability – as standard – in most models of automatic emergency braking.
Five stars, but…
Despite the positive results Euro NCAP has revealed some concerns about the robustness of the side crash tests. Among the targeted models are the Jeep Compass, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet and the Kia Picanto. In the case of the American SUV, the mannequin's chest recorded injury levels above the threshold in the pole test, but still below levels that would put the driver at risk of life.In the German convertible and the Korean city driver, in the side impact test, the dummy representing a 10-year-old child, sitting behind the driver, also revealed some worrying data. In the C-Class Cabriolet, the side airbag did not prevent the dummy's head from hitting the hood structure, while in the Picanto, the dummy's chest proved to be poorly protected.
Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary GeneralAll occupants deserve to be equally protected, whether they are an adult driver or a child in the back. Adopting a representative dummy of a 10-year-old last year allowed us to highlight areas that could be improved, even in five-star cars.
Three stars for the Kia, but the story doesn't end here
The four solid stars achieved by the Opel Ampera-e only did not show better results due to the absence of some equipment, such as warnings for the use of the rear seat belts. It is already the second Opel “accused” of such a shortcoming – the Insignia also only makes them available as an option.
Kia Rio and Picanto only won the three stars, which is not a good result. But this result is better if we choose to purchase the Safety Pack, which adds active safety equipment, including the automatic emergency braking system.
Euro NCAP tested both versions, with and without Safety Pack, demonstrating their importance for the final result. Picanto with Safety Pack gains another star, going to four, while Rio goes from three to five stars.
We know that more important than a car being able to protect us during a collision is to avoid it. But when we compare the results of crash tests on the two models, with and without the additional safety equipment, there is no difference in the results.
The Kia Picanto, for example, remains only fair in protecting its occupants in various crash tests. In the case of the Kia Rio, whether it has the Safety Pack or not, it shows as good performance – and even better in some tests, such as the pole – as the Ford Fiesta (direct and also tested competitor) in protecting occupants in case of collision.
To see the results by model, go to the Euro NCAP website.