Citroen C3 Receives Zero Stars in Latin NCAP Assessment

The latest publication from the New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (Latin NCAP) has revealed a highly concerning safety result for Stellantis, with the Citroen C3 receiving a zero-star rating.

The evaluation highlighted critical issues such as an unstable structure, insufficient frontal impact protection, absence of side head protection, and a lack of seat belt reminders. Let's dive deeper into the assessment findings and their implications.

Insufficient Protection in Frontal Impact:

During the frontal impact test, the Citroen C3 demonstrated weak protection for the driver's chest and marginal protection for the passenger's chest, likely due to the absence of pretensions.

Additionally, the car's structure and footwell area were rated as unstable. Notably, the absence of standard side head protection prevented the assessment of pole impact. Furthermore, the whiplash protection for adult occupants exhibited poor performance.

Mixed Performance in Child Occupant Protection:

While the Citroen C3 showcased almost full protection for child occupants, some dynamic points were compromised due to inadequate marking of ISOFIX anchorages for Child Restraint Systems (CRS).

Moreover, the car failed to meet the requirements for airbag warning markings and the possibility of airbag disconnection in the passenger seat position. The installation assessment also revealed some CRS failures, raising concerns about child occupant safety.

Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist:

Regrettably, the Citroen C3 did not comply with UN 127 or GTR 9 pedestrian protection regulations. The pedestrian protection subsystems demonstrated marginal to good head protection but showed weak areas closer to the windscreen edge and A-pillar.

Pelvis protection was generally adequate to good, while leg protection ranged from marginal to good. In terms of safety assistance, the Citroen C3 lacked proper seat belt reminders in the front and rear seat rows, failing to meet Latin NCAP requirements.

Overall Assessment of Citroen C3:

The frontal impact test reiterated the weak protection for the driver's chest and marginal protection for the passenger's chest, attributable to the absence of pretensions. The structure and footwell area were again deemed unstable. In the side impact assessment, the Citroen C3 showcased adequate head and chest protection but excelled in abdominal and pelvic protection.

However, the absence of standard side head protection hindered the evaluation of pole impact. Whiplash protection for adult occupants remained subpar. While the child occupant received nearly full protection, the inadequate marking of ISOFIX anchorages for CRS affected some dynamic points.

The car failed to meet airbag warning marking requirements, and airbag disconnection was not possible in the passenger seat position. Installation assessment of CRS revealed further concerns. Pedestrian protection showed a mix of marginal to good performance, with weak areas near the windscreen edge and A-pillar.

The upper leg performance was generally adequate to good, while the lower leg performance ranged from marginal to good. ESC met Latin NCAP requirements, but the absence of seat belt reminders in the front passenger seat and rear seat row failed to meet safety standards.

CarBike360 Says:

The zero-star safety rating awarded to the Citroen C3 in the Latin NCAP assessment highlights critical deficiencies in its crashworthiness and occupant protection. With an unstable structure, inadequate frontal impact protection, absence of side head protection, and various shortcomings in safety equipment, the Citroen C3 falls significantly short of safety expectations.

These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing robust safety features and structural integrity to ensure the well-being of vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users.