Latest Euro NCAP crash test results
25.08.2011 - Paul Myles
(1)
The latest European NCAP crash test safety results brought shock news for Kia as its new supermini, the Picanto, failed to record a top five-star rating.
The car was marked down to just four stars because the electronic stability control (ESC) feature was not offered as standard on all entry level models sold within the EU.
However, Kia Motors (UK) was quick to announce this safety system would be standard on all Picantos sold in the UK.
Yet the car, tipped to be among the top sellers this year in the supermini class, will still not qualify to advertise itself as a five-star rated vehicle.
Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP secretary general, said: "Proven safety benefits of ESC resulted in new legislation requiring the technology to be fitted as standard on all new models in Europe as of next year.
"In 2011, consumers should expect this critical safety equipment to be part of any offering regardless of car size or price."
A statement released by Kia Motors (UK), said: "Euro NCAP rate the lowest specification version on offer within Europe and, as such, tested a version without Electronic Stability Control. We are confident that had this been fitted to the version tested then a higher rating would have been achieved."
But the latest safety winner was the Picanto's direct rival, the Chevrolet Aveo which topped the 10-vehicle test with an overall score of 329 points, some 20 points more than its nearest rival, the new Citroen DS5.
The Aveo's performance is particularly impressive considering that the previous model struggled to gain just two stars in the NCAP safety tests.
In runner-up slot, the Citroen also recorded the best driver safety assist equipment while third place was shared by the Hyundai i40 and the Volkswagen Jetta which took the best marks for pedestrian safety.
Stable mate, the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet, was next and also clocked the top result for adult passenger safety. The remaining 10 cars in order were the Audi A6, the BMW X3, the Chevrolet Orlando, the Vauxhall Ampera and, finally, the four-star Kia Picanto.
