As Andrew Legion reports, the latest batch of cars to be subjected to the EuroNCAP crash-test programme differed widely in their capability to safeguard occupants and pedestrians, with the upcoming Peugeot 207 scoring the best overall result.
Of the six cars tested by Euro NCAP in its latest phase, only two achieved five stars for occupant protection.
The Peugeot 207 joins the growing list of superminis to be awarded the five-star Euro NCAP rating. The new Alfa Romeo 159 also received a five-star rating, the first Alfa Romeo to do so. Close behind were the Suzuki SX4 and Hyundai Tuscon, both with four stars.
The Chevrolet Aveo, a facelifted version of the former Daewoo Kalos, was singled out for the "unacceptably" high risk of life-threatening injury to the driver's chest, which was highlighted by the frontal test. As a result, the car's final star was 'struck through', which, in EuroNCAP parlance amounts to a serious thumbs down. To be specific, the test revealed that the Aveo driver was at severe risk of injury in a frontal at 64 kph (40 mph).
The Kia Cerato also obtained poor results in side-impact tests with a high risk of injury to the driver's chest.
The latest test for pedestrian protection produced equally mixed results. The new Peugeot 307 achieved a three-star rating, as did the Suzuki SX4 and, ironically, the Chevrolet Aveo. Conversely the other three cars in the same test programme were awarded only three stars between them, which means just one star each for the Hyundai Tuscon, the Kia Cerato and the Alfa Romeo 159.
Claes Tingvall, Euro NCAP Chairman said, "There is a clear difference emerging between those car manufacturers who are trying to improve the protection their cars offer to pedestrians and those who still see that as a low priority. When cars can achieve creditable results without any advanced technology, there is no excuse for the very low levels of performance we have seen in this phase."
In the all-important child-protection phase, the Alfa Romeo and Peugeot 207 again topped the table, with fours stars each. The rest obtained a three-star rating.
Euro NCAP introduced an additional star rating for child protection in November 2003. This rating is for a combination of a car with specific child seats that have been recommended by the car manufacturer. The combination can now earn up to five stars for child protection.
Tingvall concluded:"I am pleased to see that two of the six cars have achieved a maximum five-star rating for adult occupant protection. It is reassuring that more and more car companies are now placing an emphasis on safety and we are happy to recognise their achievements.
"However, we want to encourage the highest levels of safety in all cars and, in that regard, there is still work to be done. Euro NCAP will continue to provide consumers with the best information available regarding the safety of new cars." |
