2017 Fiat Punto gets Zero stars in Euro NCAP crash tests

The Fiat Punto was among the latest batch of cars crash tested by Euro NCAP. The 3rd-gen Punto scored 0 stars – a first in Euro NCAP history.

The car scored 51% and was rated as adequately safe for adult occupants. Protection of the passenger’s chest was rated as marginal. In the full-width rigid barrier test, protection of the chest of the rear passenger was weak and of the neck area was rated as marginal. In the side barrier test, chest protection was rated as marginal, while the driver was adequately protected. Additionally, whiplash protection for the front seats was rated as poor and the rear seats offered marginal protection.

Child occupant safety was rated at 43%. The car offered poor protection to rear seat child occupants in the front offset test. Protection for the neck and chest was marginal. Chest and head protection was rated as poor and weak respectively, in the side barrier impact test. At 52%, pedestrian protection was found to be good however the bonnet was found to offer little protection to the head. The front bumper offered good to adequate protection to the pedestrian’s pelvis and legs.

The model tested was a Euro-spec, 5-door version of the Punto with a 1.2-litre engine. In terms of safety features, the car comes equipped with driver and passenger airbags, seat belt pretensioner and load limiter and seat belt reminder for the driver. It comes with an ISOFIX child safety seat mounting points in the rear. Side airbags and features like speed assistance are optional on the Punto. 

The 3rd-gen Punto was launched in 2005 and hasn’t been updated since. Hence, it misses out on modern safety equipment like active bonnet, auto emergency brakes and lane assist. This is one of the reasons for its dismal performance.