Under the new rating scheme of the organization, the Ampera achieved 85 percent in adult occupant protection, 78 percent in child occupant protection, 41 percent pedestrian protection and 86 percent safety assist. (Electronic Stability Control is standard on the model, as is a seatbelt reminder system for the driver, front passenger and rear seats).
The tests showed that when it came to adult occupants, the passenger cell of the Ampera remained stable in the frontal impact. The car has driver and passenger airbags as standard equipment and dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both front seat occupants.
However, structures in the dashboard were thought to present a potential hazard to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions. The Ampera also scored maximum points in the side barrier test and in the more severe side pole impact. But, the results showed that the protection provided by the seat and head restraint against whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision was marginal.
The model tested by the safety organization was a 1.4/electric LHD. The electrical safety of the car was checked after all of the impact tests and no problems were found.
The Ampera is the second EV to get a five-star rating from the European car safety guru, after the Nissan LEAF, as Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV only managed to get four stars following the tests.
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