Citroen C3 Disappoints In The Latin NCAP Crash Safety Test

The Citroen C3 hatchback has been crash tested by Latin NCAP and it has secured a disappointing zero star in the crash safety test. The hatchback tested was made in Brazil and it’s the first time the C3 is put under a crash test. It remains to be seen how the India-spec hatchback fares when it’s tested by Global NCAP. 

The C3 hatchback, like any other model tested by Latin NCAP, was tested for four parameters: Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP), Safety Assists (SA) and Pedestrian Protection (PP). 

Adult Occupant Protection - 31 Percent 

In the frontal impact test, the C3 offered good protection to the head and neck of both front occupants. That said, protection offered to the driver’s chest was weak, while the same for the co-driver was marginal. The driver’s knees and co-driver’s right knees also had marginal shielding as it could come in contact with dangerous structures behind the dash. However, the co-driver’s left knee had good protection. 

In the side impact test, protection to the head and chest was adequate, while the hatch managed good defence for the abdomen and tibias. Latin NCAP didn’t conduct the side pole impact test as there is no side protection (read: curtain airbags) on offer in the C3. 

Also Read: Made-In-India VW Taigun Passes Latin NCAP Safety Test With Flying Colours

The C3’s body shell and footwell area was rated as unstable, the former incapable of withstanding further loadings. 

Child Occupant Protection - 12 Percent 

This is the area where the C3 performed very poorly. Both the 3-year-old and 18-month-old dummies were installed in rear-facing child seats using ISOFIX mounts and support legs. And yes, it offered full protection to both the dummies. But Latin NCAP said lack of proper marking brought down its score. Also, some of the child restraint systems tested for installation failed. Latin NCAP was also concerned that there is no airbag warning when a child seat is fitted and the passenger airbag cannot be disabled. All of this explains its poor COP score. 

Safety Assists - 35 Percent 

The Citroen C3 tested had seat belt reminder only for the driver, which didn’t meet Latin NCAP’s standards. However, it did appreciate the fact that the hatch had electronic stability control as standard. The hatchback didn’t get any sort of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, which brought its score down further. 

Pedestrian Protection - 50 Percent 

This is probably the area where the C3 got its highest score out of all four parameters. It offered good, adequate and marginal protection to most of the areas and closer to the windscreen, there was reduction in pedestrian head protection. Also, upper leg protection was adequate to good, while the same for lower leg was marginal to good. 

C3 In India 

The C3 made in India is yet to be crash tested. It’s currently priced from Rs 6.16 lakh (ex-showroom). Rivals for the C3 include the Tata Punch, Hyundai Exter as well as hatchbacks such as the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and Maruti Suzuki Swift.