Sunday, July 29, 2007

Only 4 of 5 stars? Euro NCAP's test of the Honda Hybrid and the Skoda Fabia

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Euro NCAP has released the results of their security tests for two small models. One is the new Honda Civic Prius hybrid and the Skoda Fabia which have been recently released in Europe. Neither of the two models got the 5-star rating for adult protection, although both got 4 stars in this field.

The Skoda Fabia got 3 stars in child protection and 2 (out of 4) in pedestrian safety, a new set of rules European cars must accomplish. Skoda is a Volkswagen brand manufactured in the Czech Republic.

The Hybrid Civic got 4 stars in child protection and 3 in pedestrian safety. Nevertheless, Euro NCAP's Secretary-General Adrian Hobbs said, "Consumers may be asking themselves whether high safety scores and a hybrid powertrain can go hand in hand. Both Honda and Toyota have shown that they are rising to the challenge in their efforts to meet concerns about safety and global warming. It is now up to other manufacturers to follow in their footsteps."

Follow the link for the additional comments on these tests.

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[Source: Euro NCAP]

UPDATE: fixed typoComments on the Skoda Fabia:

Front impact

The passenger compartment remained stable during the impact but structures in the dashboard presented a risk of injury to the knees and femurs of the driver and passenger.

Side impact
Based on dummy results alone, the Fabia would have scored maximum points in the side impact and pole tests. Howewer, in the side test, the rear door moved from the primary latch to the secondary latch position and the car lost one point available for tha

Child-protection
The Fabia scored maximum points for its protection of the 18 month dummy in the frontal and side impact tests. In the side impact, the 3 year old's restraint rotated so that the dummy's head was not fully contained within the child seat, making it vulner

Pedestrian protection
The bumper scored maximum points for the protection it offered to pedestrians' legs. However, the front edge of the bonnet scored no points.

Comments on the Honda Civic Hybrid:

Front impact
The passenger compartment remained stable during the impact. However, there was insufficient pressure in the driver's airbag to prevent the dummy's head from making contact with the steering wheel. Structures in the dashboard presented a risk of injury

Child-protection
The presence of ISOFIX anchorages in the rear outboard seats was not clearly marked.

Pedestrian protection
The Civic Hybrid scored maximum points for the protection offered to pedestrians' legs by the bumper and the front edge of the bonnet.

 

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