NCAP

NCAP
December 2007

The latest crash results from six new cars have been released by Euro NCAP. In the supermini category, the Daihatsu Materia and Mazda 2; the Honda Civic in the small family car category; and for large family cars, the Mercedes Benz C Class Saloon, Renault Laguna, and the Volvo V70 were all tested.

Four of the models, the Mercedes Benz C Class, Volvo V70, Mazda 2, and Renault Laguna, scored a full five points in the adult occupant protection category.

The Renault Laguna nearly took away the highest score for adult occupancy ever given by Euro NCAP, but a rear door opened during a side-impact test, thus forcing NCAP to take away a point.

Four points was the highest rating for child occupancy protection, with the Mazda 2, Honda Civic, Volvo V70, and Renault Laguna all receiving four points. The Daihatsu Materia and Mercedes Benz C Class both got three.

Most disappointing, according to Euro NCAP, was the pedestrian safety rating results, in which no car scored better than three points, and all but the Honda Civic received only two. Comcar will begin to display pedestrian ratings soon.

For the Mazda 2 and Volvo V70, these results actually represent a re test. In initial testing the Mazda 2 had an airbag that delayed in opening during a front crash test. Mazda was willing to change the airbag control software in the Mazda 2, so Euro NCAP granted a retest and the airbag deployed correctly. Mazda is in the process of contacting current Mazda 2 owners to make the same software correction.

The Volvo V70 did not fare quite so well the second time around, when curtain airbag deployment during the side pole test was again delayed. Euro NCAP suggests that concerned V70 owners contact their dealers.

This article has been read 466 times