Euro NCAP, the European crash test safety body, has just released a fresh batch of test results, covering no less than 17 new and exciting (most of them at least) models. Most got the usual five-star rating, but there were a few exceptions, namely the new Panda, a chinese car, Jaguar XF and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
the 2012 Panda, a brand new four-door compact from Fiat, is a sort of budget car, so it doesn’t really surprise us its got such a low score, but let’s see what went wrong. The first problem was that despite the passenger compartment remaining stable in the frontal test, the steering column and ignition barrel were thought to present a risk to drivers of different sizes and to those sat in different positions.
It side impact test with the barrier and pole, there were rib compression indications from the dummies, so protection was deemed marginal or weak.
As for child occupant protection, Euro NCAP says that “In the frontal impact, the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward facing restraint, did not move forward excessively. However, on rebound, the head of the dummy glanced against the rear window and the score was penalised. In the side impact, the 18 month dummy was properly contained but the head of the 3 year dummy was slightly outside the side wing of the restraint.”
The Panda wasn’t fitted with ESP as standard, and the system doesn't even meet Euro NCAP’s standards.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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