Insignia, five stars
Euro NCAP today releases the results for some of Europe’s best-selling cars. This is the last time that Euro NCAP will release results under its current rating system, before the organisation’s new rating system is launched in February 2009. Of the twelve vehicles whose results are released today, eight received Euro NCAP’s maximum award of five stars. With the implementation of the new rating scheduled for 2009, Euro NCAP also reveals its high ambitions for manufacturers: without ESC, the achievement of five stars will no longer be possible.
Euro NCAP’s top scorers for adult occupant protection in this release were the Alfa Romeo Mito, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 308CC, Volkswagen Golf VI, Renault Megane, Honda Accord, Opel Insignia and the Volvo XC60. Not all of these cars performed as well in child occupant or pedestrian protection.
Euro NCAP rated the Dacia Sandero fitted with the basic level of safety equipment and also crash tested the car equipped with the ‘safety pack’, which is standard on some variants and optional on others. The Sandero fitted with the basic level of equipment scored three stars in adult occupant protection whilst the car with the optional safety pack, scored the equivalent of four stars. Euro NCAP is disappointed that this pack is not offered as standard on all variants, given the additional safety it offers to adult occupants.
Following Euro NCAP’s first tests on pickups earlier this year, the organisation today also releases the result for another: the Ford Ranger. The vehicle received a two star rating for adult occupant protection, underlining the lack of emphasis given by most manufacturers to the safety of cars in this category.
Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP says ‘It is clear that Euro NCAP’s new rating scheme in 2009 will offer a more discriminating view of the overall safety performance of today’s best selling vehicles and give customers the opportunity to prioritise and maximise the safety options on their vehicles.’
The first results for vehicles tested under the new rating system will be released in February 2009. Results released today are for cars in the categories Supermini, Small Family, Large Family, Small Off-Roader, Pick up and Large MPV. The ratings for these cars can be seen in more detail at http://www.euroncap.com.
The Opel/Vauxhall Insignia test
Front impact
The passenger compartment remained stable during the impact. The front seat occupants were sufficiently well restrained by the double seatbelt pretensioners that their knees did not contact the facia. Opel showed that the knees and femurs of occupants of different sizes and those sat in different seating positions would also be well protected.
Side impact
The Insignia scored maximum points in the side impact and pole tests
Child-protection
Based on dummy data from the crash tests, the Insignia scored maximum points for protection of the 3 year infant. However, points were lost for the non-permanent label which did not adequately warn of the dangers of using a rearward-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat. The passenger's airbag can be disabled by means of a switch but information given to the driver about the status of the airbag is not sufficiently clear. The presence of ISOFIX anchorages in the rear seats was not clearly marked.
Pedestrian protection
The bumper scored maximum points for protection of pedestrians' legs. However, the bonnet was rated as predominantly poor for the protection it offered the head of a struck adult.
© Car of the Year. All right reserved