Order books for the Astra GTC opened back in July, and the first cars will arrive in British showrooms next month, but Euro NCAP has had its chance to check if the sporty two-door contender for the VW Scirocco is up to the challenge when it comes to safety.
Of course, the GTC received a five-star rating from the European safety body, but we’ll have to delve deeper to see how it will protect its occupants.
Readings from frontal impacts indicated good protection of the knees and femurs for both the driver and front passenger dummies. However, there was some rib compression in both side impacts, and the protection there was deemed to be marginal. The front seat and head restraints provided good protection against whiplash injuries in a rear-end collisions.
Child occupant protection was rated at 79%. The passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward facing child restraint to be used in that seating position, which is a must considering that this is a two-door car.
“However, information provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag is not sufficiently clear. Permanently attached labels on the sun visor clearly warn of the dangers of using a rearward facing child seat in that position,” Euro NCAP says.
The front bumper provided good protection to pedestrians' legs. However, the protection offered to a pedestrians hip and pelvic area was poor.
“We are proud of the latest five-star results,” said Rita Forst, Vice President of Opel/Vauxhall Engineering. “Passenger safety has always been high on our agenda, and we are pleased not only to have met the safety standards with Astra GTC and Zafira Tourer, but to have surpassed them.”
Readings from frontal impacts indicated good protection of the knees and femurs for both the driver and front passenger dummies. However, there was some rib compression in both side impacts, and the protection there was deemed to be marginal. The front seat and head restraints provided good protection against whiplash injuries in a rear-end collisions.
Child occupant protection was rated at 79%. The passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward facing child restraint to be used in that seating position, which is a must considering that this is a two-door car.
“However, information provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag is not sufficiently clear. Permanently attached labels on the sun visor clearly warn of the dangers of using a rearward facing child seat in that position,” Euro NCAP says.
The front bumper provided good protection to pedestrians' legs. However, the protection offered to a pedestrians hip and pelvic area was poor.
“We are proud of the latest five-star results,” said Rita Forst, Vice President of Opel/Vauxhall Engineering. “Passenger safety has always been high on our agenda, and we are pleased not only to have met the safety standards with Astra GTC and Zafira Tourer, but to have surpassed them.”
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