Latin NCAP announces new test cycle with zero rating for Citroën C3 Aircross and controversial downgrade of Toyota Corolla to 4 stars
On Wednesday, Latin NCAP released another round of tests. The New Vehicle Evaluation Program for Latin America and the Caribbean tested the Citroën C3 Aircross, which passed the safety evaluation. After an audit, the body also reduced the rating of the Toyota Corolla – originally tested in 2022 – from five to four stars.
The Citroën C3 Aircross, made in Brazil, earned zero stars. The SUV was tested in the entry-level Feel Turbo version, which offers five seats and two airbags and electronic stability control (ESC) as standard. As usual, Latin NCAP always evaluates the most basic version of the models’ passive safety characteristics.
The Aircross scored 33.01% for adult occupant protection, 11.37% for child occupant protection, 49.57% for pedestrian and vulnerable road user protection and 34.88% for safety assistance. The vehicle was tested in frontal impact, side impact, whiplash, pedestrian protection and ESC.
The side pole impact test was not performed and scored zero points due to the lack of lateral head protection in the front and rear rows, which is not offered as an option. Produced in Porto Real (RJ), the Citroën C3 Aircross offers four airbags as standard in the more expensive versions, two front and two side for front passengers.
“While other competitors offer greater safety and better performance, Citroën continues to provide poor safety as standard in its cars. Latin NCAP urges Stellantis, PSA and Citroën to change their focus, improve the basic safety equipment of their cars and voluntarily offer their cars to Latin NCAP to show consumers their performance,” says Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of LatinNCAP .
According to Latin NCAP, “the frontal impact showed weak chest protection for the front passenger. The side impact test showed significant intrusion into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury to occupants. The cervical whiplash test achieved poor protection for the adult neck.”
Furthermore, the Citroën C3 Aircross also lost points for seat belt reminder and child protection because both features did not meet the Latin NCAP standards for signaling Isofix anchorages and because it was not possible to deactivate the passenger seat airbag front passenger when placing a rear-facing CRS in this position.
The model does not offer speed assistance systems, lane keeping systems and autonomous emergency braking as standard, not even as options. According to Latin NCAP, the zero-star rating would be the same for the version with side airbags, as the model offers no side head protection or curtain airbags.
With side-body airbags, the side-impact test would improve by points, but adult occupant protection would remain at the zero-star level. Children’s ratings would also remain at the same current level of zero stars.
Toyota Corolla drops to four stars after audit test
Latin NCAP also carried out an audit test on the Toyota Corolla sold on the Mexican market and imported, depending on the version, from the United States and Japan. The Brazilian-made Toyota Corolla earned five stars in the 2022 rating.
In accordance with the requirements of the assessment protocols, Latin NCAP has the right to audit any voluntary testing at any time. In the 2024 audit test, the frontal impact test performed similarly, but the protective area of the side curtain airbags had less coverage than the version tested in 2022, resulting in a two-point penalty.
Additionally, the Corolla audited had an airbag warning symbol on the front passenger seat that did not comply with Latin NCAP requirements, resulting in reduced points for the child occupant. As a result, the safety rating was recalculated and the result dropped to four stars.
As a result, the Toyota Corolla sold in Mexico achieved 72.84% adult occupant protection, 71.57% child occupant protection, 59.72% pedestrian and vulnerable road user protection road and 81.57% for safety assistance. The model note has been updated on the Latin NCAP site, in a decision that promises to generate controversy.
This is because Mexico is the only Latin American country with this variant of the Corolla. All other countries have the sedan made in Brazil or to the same standard as the Brazilian Corolla, which scored five stars in the test. However, Latin NCAP did not point out that the rating is valid only for the Mexican market, but for the entire region.
“As Toyota’s disappointments pile up, it’s time for the manufacturer to return to producing its cars with a five-star focus, as it has just lost the only five-star model in the current Latin NCAP protocol. While four stars represents a good level of safety, Toyota is known for leading the way with the highest rating results,” concludes Alejandro Furas, general secretary of Latin NCAP.
Source: Terra
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