Euro NCAP: latest results show small cars are getting safer 

New results from Euro NCAP, the independent car crash test programme supported by the FIA Foundation, show that small cars are becoming safer.

Euro NCAP’s, Phase 15 results featured The Renault Modus – the first car classed as a supermini to receive the coveted five-star rating for Occupant Protection.

The Citroën C4 – classified as a Small Family Car – performed particularly well in the testing programme, scoring five stars for Occupant Protection, four stars for Child Protection and a creditable three stars for Pedestrian Protection.

The Seat Altea – classified as a Small MPV – is also showing the way forward, scoring five stars for Occupant Protection, four stars for Child Protection and three stars for Pedestrian Protection.

The Citroën C5 – classified as a Large Family Car – performed particularly well in the tests and with a belt reminder fitted to all seating positions underlines the importance of fastening your seat belt.

• The Euro NCAP Phase 15 ratings, incorporated 13 new models and one previously tested:
• Seven received the maximum five star rating for Occupant Safety
• Nine received the maximum four star rating for Child Protection
• No cars received the maximum four star rating for Pedestrian Protection
• Nine cars received merely a one star rating for Pedestrian Protection

The dichotomy between Occupant Protection and Pedestrian Protection ratings particularly stark with the Audi A6, Renault Modus, VW Touareg, and the Citroën C5.

Claes Tingvall, Euro NCAP Chairman, said:

“Manufacturers have realised that the occupants of smaller vehicles demand optimum safety standards. It is not merely a right reserved for those that can afford executive vehicles.

“The Ford Focus, Renault Modus, Citroën C4 and Seat Altea have performed particularly well in terms of Occupant and Child Protection.

“I am particularly delighted that the Citroën C4 and the Seat Altea also offer an enhanced level of protection for Vulnerable Road Users.

“It is a major disappointment that nine of the fourteen models tested were worthy of just one star (out of four) for Pedestrian Safety. We believe that the public will be demanding more when they make their choice of new vehicle.”

Summary of results

David Ward, Director General of the FIA Foundation said,

“This launch demonstrates that car makers are striving and succeeding in delivering five star occupant safety. Now we need to see similar determination in improving pedestrian safety design, so that the combination of improved levels of occupant and pedestrian protection achieved by the Citroën C4 and the Seat Altea are matched by others. ”

David Jamieson, UK Transport Minister said,

“I am pleased that manufacturers are continuing to improve car occupant safety with the majority of the cars tested achieving 5 stars for occupant protection.

“It is encouraging to have two cars achieving 3 stars for pedestrian protection although the majority are still only achieving one star. I would urge manufacturers to implement improvements in pedestrian protection ahead of the European Standards which will take effect from 2005.”

Peter Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Thatcham said,

“The latest safety ratings from Euro NCAP, updates the motorist on all aspects of safety, including the BMW 1 test sponsored by British Insurers. This information together with Thatcham's ratings on whiplash prevention, security and insurance provide clear guidance on vehicle purchase decisions.”

Wilfried Klanner, Testing and Technical Manager for the ADAC said,

“The car industry is more and more successful in fulfilling Euro NCAP
requirements and thus significantly contributes towards the improvement of
vehicle safety. This is the result of the latest Euro NCAP test series, where
50% of all models tested have achieved the highest mark of 5 stars."

Josep Isern, General Director for Energy, Mines and Industrial Safety of the Generalitat de Catalunya said,

“In this phase, the Government of Catalonia has sponsored the assessment of the new Seat Altea, a model developed and produced in Spain. We are delighted to find that the results are excellent, and the fact that it has obtained the best qualification in pedestrian protection up to now is especially outstanding. We hope the road safety awareness of our companies and citizens keeps progressing.”

Sebastià Salvadó, RACC President said,

“The great merit of Euro NCAP lies in having been able to convince car manufacturers, not without large initial discrepancies, of the need to consider safety as a top priority when it comes to designing their new products. The manufacturers took over the baton and passenger protection has experienced a significant improvement since the Euro NCAP crash tests became widespread. The challenge for the future is to centre the same efforts towards improvement and self-demand on the increase of pedestrian safety, something that, as the 15th Euro NCAP phase has shown, is right now the pending matter.”

Guido Adriaenssens, ICRT Chief Executive said,
"Today we welcome another Euro NCAP achievement: the first 5 star supermini. And there is a new number 1 in the all time best score, almost scoring the full the 100% for occupant protection. But there is also the very disappointing result of a newly introduced KIA super mini that only just jumped into the 3 star category. In 2004 we call that a very poor result! And buyers of the 2004 European Car of the Year will be disappointed as well. 

“The protection of vulnerable road users that are hit by a car is an issue that car manufacturers have been picking up less well. However two cars today show us that it is possible to develop more forgiving car fronts in ordinary, family class, production cars. Other manufacturers shamelessly put newly developed cars on the market without sufficient precautions to limit the injury risks in case a pedestrian is hit. Consumer organisations strongly support improvements in this area, and hope that Euro NCAP will manage to steer market forces by generating comparative information as long as there is no appropriate EU directive in place."

Editors note:

1. Organisations participating to Euro NCAP include the Departments of Transport of Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Catalonia as well as the European Commission, the FIA Foundation, the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC), Thatcham on behalf of the British Motor Insurers and the International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT) on behalf of the European consumer organisations.

2. The results are announced at the Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid at a news conference hosted by the RACC.

3. Future Phases will continue with testing of new cars in all segments.

4. Australia has adopted the same testing protocols as Euro NCAP and they are publishing results from Euro NCAP that are applicable in their market. The Euro NCAP testing protocols are unique in that they include tests for front, side impact and pole impact and also gives information on pedestrian.

5. 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. The rating depends on the fitting instructions for the child seats, the car’s ability to accommodate them safely and their performance in front and side impact tests. However, there are important limitations to this rating, which are:

The child protection rating cannot be used for the car alone, nor can it used for the car with a different combination of child seats.

The tested child seat alone does not have a child protection rating.

The same child seat tested in combination with other cars may give a different child protection rating.

6. The front impact test is conducted at 64km/h (40mph) into an offset deformable barrier, the side impact test 50km/h (30mph), the pole test at 29km/h (18mph) and the pedestrian tests at 40km/h (25mph).

7. The full results will be on the web site www.euroncap.com from 25th November.