4:30 am, February 23, 2012
IT’S tougher than ever for car makers to achieve a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.
Since the revamp of Euro NCAP’s rating system in 2009, the safety organisation has upped the ante by raising its criteria for five stars annually.
Needless to say, this translates into significantly safer vehicles for consumers, in particular when it comes to pedestrian protection.
The recently refreshed Jeep Compass (pictured) achieved only two stars against the 2012 criteria, underachieving in most areas of Euro NCAP’s assessment.
Its test results showed poor protection levels, particularly in the side pole test.
Euro NCAP also published the results for the new Honda Civic, which was awarded the maximum five-star rating. The ninth-generation family hatchback achieved high scores in all areas of assessment.
Eight cars assessed last year also meet the more stringent requirements for five stars in 2012: BMW 1 Series, BMW X1, Ford Focus, Ford Ranger, Mercedes M Class, Nissan LEAF, Subaru XV and Volvo V60.
Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General, said: ‘A five-star rating these days means a lot more than it did some years ago. Many car makers have moved on and so have we.
‘Cars based on older technology, brushed up and marketed as new are not providing the same levels of safety as the newest models developed against the new targets. Consumers interested in a fair comparison will not be fooled.’
