Citroen C3 Aircross Scores Incredible ZERO Stars, Latin NCAP Refuses To Perform One Test

How is this possible, you ask? The safety specialists noted that the car showed weak chest protection for the front passenger during the frontal impact test, and the side impact showed "a relevant intrusion in the passenger compartment." This increases the risk of injuries. Poor protection for the adult dummy’s neck was also revealed during the whiplash test.

The Brazil-made Citroen C3 Aircross was also deemed unsafe for children as the ISOFIX anchorages do not meet Latin NCAP's requirements. It appears that the French automaker does not intend to update this feature soon. If that wasn't bad enough, the automotive safety watchdog for Latin America and the Caribbean refused to perform the side pole impact test for one simple reason: the vehicle doesn't feature side head protection for the front and rear rows.

According to Latin NCAP, Citroen's C3 Aircross sold locally, which comes with two airbags and ESC as standard, was rated at 33.01% in the Adult Occupant category and 11.37% for Child Occupant. It didn’t impress in the Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users category either, as it scored 49.57%, and it did only 34.88% in the Safety Assist.

"Stellantis disappoints once again with a zero-star model. Citroen's and Stellantis' engineers know well how to offer cars with better safety performances, but unfortunately, the corporate decision goes in a different direction," said Latin NCAP's Secretary General, Alejandro Furas. "Latin NCAP urges Stellantis, PSA, and Citroen to change its approach, to improve basic safety equipment in cars, and to volunteer the cars in Latin NCAP to show consumers their performances."

Besides rating the Citroen C3 Aircross made in Brazil with zero stars, Latin NCAP also reassessed the Toyota Corolla for the Mexican market. The model was initially tested two years ago, and it scored a maximum of five stars. However, the latest assessment showed the vehicle's safety rating dropping to four stars. The reason is the side curtain airbag, which has less coverage than the version the safety watchdog assessed in 2022. Thus, it penalized it with two points. The airbag warning marking for the passenger seat does not meet Latin NCAP's requirements, so the car lost more points here.

"As Toyota's disappointment keeps piling up, it is time for the manufacturer to engage again in producing their cars focusing on the five stars as they have just lost the only current valid five stars model in Latin NCAP," Alejandro Furas noted. "Today's results prove once again the relevance and the need for a standardized vehicle safety labeling that includes the Latin NCAP star rating."