The New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (Latin NCAP) has released the third publication of results for two models for the Latin American market under its twelfth phase (2021) of results.
The results are
not valid for any other market than Latin America and the Caribbean.
The following models have been tested:
- Volkswagen Taos
- Fiat Argo/Cronos
Presentation of results:
1.
Volkswagen Taos
This model scored an overall
five star rating, becoming the first model to achieve this result (or anything greater than one star) under Latin NCAP's 2020-23 protocol.
Testers' comments:
Adult Occupant Protection (90%):
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Latin NCAP Frontal impact: The protection offered to the driver and passenger head and neck was good. Driver chest showed marginal protection and passenger’s chest showed adequate protection. Driver’s and passenger’s knees showed good protection. Driver’s tibias showed adequate protection and passenger´s tibias showed good protection. Footwell area was rated as stable. The bodyshell was rated as stable and it is capable of withstanding further loadings. Side impact: Head, abdomen, chest and pelvis protection was good. Side Pole Impact: Head, abdomen and pelvis protection was good, while chest protection was adequate. Whiplash: showed good protection to the neck. UN R32: the car meets the rear impact structure requirements. AEB City: the offers AEB city according to fitment requirements and scored full points in the tests. Rescue sheet content is ok and meeting Latin NCAP requirements. All of the above explains the 90.23% of points matching a level of 5 stars. |
Child Occupant Protection (90%):
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Latin NCAP The CRSs used for the Q3 dummy were JSS Midi, offered by VW under part number 3118897BVL-AA and for the Q1.5 the Britax Roemer Baby safe + ISOFIX base offered under part number 3118899P15-AA/5G0.019.907.A”. The child seats for both child dummies were installed rearward facing using ISOFIX anchorages and support leg. Both were capable of preventing head exposure during forward movement offering full protection to both child occupants. Side impact protection was good, achieving full score in side impact protection. All tested CRSs in installation pass. Marking was according to Latin NCAP requirements however only for ISOFIX and not an i-Size marking. Airbag warning when a rearward CRS is installed in the passenger seat was permanently attached to the surface and according to Latin NCAP requirements. Passenger airbag could be disconnected in the case that a rearward facing CRS is installed in the front passenger seat. All of the above explains the 89.8% of points matching a level of 5 stars. |
Vulnerable Road Users (61%):
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Latin NCAP The car meets UN127 Pedestrian protection regulations. The car showed average pedestrian protection, marginal head protection, poor upper leg protection and good lower leg protection. The car strategy aims to prevent hitting pedestrians and VRU with the interaction of the AEB VRU in those versions available which is in at least 50% of the sales volume. AEB VRU: available according to fitment rates, the validated performance offers full effectiveness in the validation tests. All of the above explains the 60.61% of points just matching a level of 5 stars. |
Safety Assist (85%):
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Latin NCAP ESC: The car offers ESC as standard. Moose test max speed was 90 km/h for the ADAC Moose scenario and 70km/h for the Consumer testing scenario. SBR: the car offers front and rear passengers SBR achieving full score. SA: The car offers standard speed limitation and it meets Latin NCAP requirements. BSD: The car does offer BSD but it was not assessed. LSS and RED: this technology was not assessed. AEB Interurban: the car offers AEB Interurban according to fitment requirements and scored almost full points in the tests. All of the above explains the 85.04% of points matching a level of 5 stars. |
2.
Fiat Argo/Cronos
This model scored an overall
zero star rating. Fiat announced that they will improve this model soon and will volunteer for testing to demonstrate the improvements (Source: Latin NCAP press release)
Testers' comments:
Adult Occupant Protection (24%):
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Latin NCAP Frontal impact: The protection offered to the driver and passenger head and neck was good. Driver’s chest showed marginal protection and passenger’s chest showed good protection. Driver and passengers’ knees showed marginal protection as they can impact with dangerous structures behind the fascia. Driver’s tibias showed good and adequate protection and passenger´s tibias showed adequate protection. Footwell area was rated as stable. The bodyshell was rated as unstable and it is not capable of withstanding further loadings. Side impact: Abdomen and pelvis protection was good while chest protection was weak and head protection was poor. Structural intrusion was expected to be lower. Side Pole Impact: was not performed as the car does not offer side head protection as standard. Whiplash: the protection to the neck was poor and the seat showed a high deflection and was penalized as a consequence. UN R32: The car meets the rear impact structural requirements. AEB City: the car does not offer even optional AEB city. Rescue sheet content is ok and meeting Latin NCAP requirements. |
Child Occupant Protection (10%):
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Latin NCAP The child seat for the 3-year-old was installed forward facing using ISOFIX anchorages and Top Tether. It was capable of preventing excessive forward movement of the head. Side impact protection was good. The Q1.5 was installed rearward facing using ISOFIX anchorages and a support leg while it offered good protection during the frontal impact. Side impact protection was good. just Some of the CRSs tested for installation pass. Despite having standard ISOFIX anchorages in rear outboard positions marking was not according to Latin NCAP requirements. Airbag warning when a rearward CRS is installed in the passenger seat was not meeting Latin NCAP requirements. Passenger airbag could be disconnected in the case that a rearward facing CRS is installed in the front passenger seat but the marking and warning is not the appropriate one for Latin NCAP requirements. |
Vulnerable Road User Protection (37%):
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Latin NCAP The car does not prove to meet Pedestrian protection UN regulations. The car showed limited and low protection to pedestrians. AEB VRU: not available in the market for this model. |
Pedestrian protection for this model was the
worst ever seen since Latin NCAP introduced these tests.
Safety Assist (7%):
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Latin NCAP ESC: The car does not offer ESC as standard. SBR: the car offers front driver SBR only. SA: the car does not offer a speed limitation device. BSD: The car does not offer BSD as standard. LSS and RED: the car does not offer these technologies. AEB Interurban: The car does not have AEB inter urban. |
Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP said:
Quote:
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Taos’ 5 stars is a milestone in Latin NCAP’s latest protocols and triggers the challenge to all manufacturers to aim for a top star rating. The Taos is a locally made product that offers global standards of safety to its occupants and Vulnerable Road Users. On the other hand, the Cronos/Argo disappointed with a zero stars result but Latin NCAP welcomes and remains expectant towards the commitment to improve the model. Latin NCAP congratulates Volkswagen for this achievement and looks forward to see these protection levels in models on sale soon. At the same time Latin NCAP encourages Fiat to improve the Argos/Cronos as soon as possible. Latin NCAP believes that consumer information known as labelling can dramatically and quickly improve the safety level of cars as a result of a voluntary action.
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Stephan Brodziak, Latin NCAP Chairman said:
Quote:
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With these latest results from Latin NCAP, it is clear the relevance of the programme to inform consumers, road users and decision makers about the safety performance of the evaluated models. It is necessary that the countries in the region embrace Latin NCAP to comply with the right to information in agreement with the Consumer Protection Guidelines that require strong policies for the protection of these. If it would not have been tested we would not know about the low safety that the Fiat Argo/Cronos offers not only to its customers, but to all the people that coexist on the streets with this type of vehicle. Fiat adds another low-safety car to the list of cars that do not adequately protect road users. We make a call to Fiat to shift towards safer cars. On the other hand, we are pleasantly surprised with the result of the Volkswagen Taos, hopefully this level of safety is offered in all the brand’s models and, furthermore, it serves as an example for other manufacturers to raise the safety performance of the cars they sell in the region
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Alejandro Furas confirms that there will be at least two more results before the end of the year, and says it will be "a matter of days" before new results are published.
Note: The Fiat Argo/Cronos was audited in the side impact test where it showed poor protection to the head. Consequently, along with the new result, its 2019 result has been revised from an older three star rating for adult protection to a disappointing zero star rating. The older three star rating for adult protection has been annulled.
View the full press release
here.
3rd December 2021, 20:00
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