Latin NCAP latest results: Pick-ups Hilux tops safety, Navara four stars, while Cruze achieves first ever top adult safety for GM

Latin NCAP latest results: Pick-ups Hilux tops safety, Navara four stars, while Cruze achieves first ever top adult safety for GM

The New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean, Latin NCAP, fifth set of results of 2019 was released today with two pick-ups and a C segment model assessed with ratings from four to five stars for adults and for child occupant protection.

The Toyota Hilux Double Cab and SW4 , manufactured in Argentina and Thailand, renewed under latest and tougher protocol, the five stars for Adult and Child Occupant Protection. The updated Toyota Hilux Double Cab and SW4 produced as from 1^st July 2019 (as from VIN 8AJKX3CD9L2012000) is now equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and a total of 7 airbags as standard: three frontal, two side body plus two curtain airbags. The Hilux frontal and side impact tests were performed in 2015 with the previous protocol reaching also five stars for adult and child occupants. Toyota decided to update the model with more safety equipment and after side, pole side impact and ESC tests, the model achieved a solid five stars result for all occupants. Toyota recommended to install both child dummies rearward facing, following latest global best practices, confirming it with high protection score in the dynamic test for child occupants .

The Nissan Frontier Double Cab also known as Nissan NP300 Navara Double Cab in Chile, produced in Argentina and Mexico, achieved four stars for Adult and Child Occupant Protection. The Frontier double cab is equipped with two frontal airbags and ESC as standard. The structure was borderline rated as unstable, however it was noticed that it has good projection and development behind and could be improved . The lack of side head protection as standard limited the car to be also assessed in the pole side impact protection. The protection offered to the 3 years old child dummy, as well as the lack of passenger airbag disabling switch, limited higher score of the car which resulted in a four stars child occupant protection rate.

The Chevrolet Cruze , produced in Argentina, achieved five stars for Adult Occupant Protection and four stars for Child Occupant Protection. The Cruze was tested by Latin NCAP in 2018 achieving four stars for Adult and Child Occupant Protection. At that time the pole side impact test, which is required to pass to achieve five stars in adult occupant safety when side protection is standard, was not performed as curtain airbags were not standard. As from 21 of May and from VIN 8AGBB69S0LR100117, all Cruzes are produced with standard 6 airbags and ESC. After testing the Cruze in the pole side impact test and passing the requirements, the model achieved five stars for Adult Occupant Protection. Child Occupant Protection was good reaching four stars. The Cruze missed the five stars for child occupants due to the ISOFIX marking not meeting Latin NCAP requirements and the protection offered for the frontal crash for the 3 years old dummy that can be improved.

Latin NCAP recommends consumers from the region to only buy cars offering ESC.

Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP said:

“ These results are absolutely amazing and great progress. The renewed result of the Hilux double cab and SW4 shows Toyota’s commitment to five stars protection which should followed by all other car manufacturers in Latin America. The first ever five stars Latin NCAP car for General Motors is a great step forward considering that the model introduced standard side head protection airbags showing the aim for reaching top safety levels. We encourage General Motors to offer these levels of safety in lower priced models as standard. Although Nissan’s pick up rating of four stars shows good protection, close to its competitor the Hilux, the Frontier can do better. Nissan could follow Toyota by adding side body and head airbags as standard and aim for five stars.

The market is helping to lead decisions on safety policies for fleets and it is now showing that five stars results are possible. It seems that consumer’s demand can help steer the market faster towards safer cars. All these models are voluntarily improving, are offering safety levels as standard beyond and earlier than governmental regulations“.

Ricardo Morales Rubio, Latin NCAP Chairman said:

“ We are very pleased with these latest pick-ups results This segment is very important specially for fleet managers who are demanding safer cars for their employees every day. With these results they have now more information available about the option in the market, but this is not enough. We encourage all other manufacturers providing big fleets around the region to offer top safety levels in their products. We also welcome GM first five stars result in Latin NCAP. After many years of working in the region is good to see a global manufacturer reacting voluntarily towards the programs and caring about their consumers”.

Toyota Hilux Double Cab / SW4 (7 airbags)

Read the full crash test report

Watch the crash test video

Watch ESC test video

Download crash test image

Nissan Frontier / Navara NP300 Double cab (2 airbags)

Read the full crash test report

Watch the crash test video

Watch ESC test video

Download crash test image

Chevrolet Cruze (6 airbags)

Read the full crash test report

Watch the crash test video

Watch ESC test video

Download crash test image

About Latin NCAP

The Latin New Car Assessment Programme (Latin NCAP) was launched in 2010 to develop a regional system of independent crashworthiness and safety rating across Latin America and Caribbean (LAC). Latin NCAP replicates similar consumer testing programmes developed over the last thirty years in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, and which have proved to be very effective in improving the safety of motor vehicles. Since 2010 Latin NCAP has published the results of more than one hounded cars, all results available at www.latinncap.com/results .

Latin NCAP acknowledges the support received by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP), International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT), FIA Foundation, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Road Safety Initiative.

Latin NCAP is an Associate member of Global NCAP and supports the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 and the Stop the Crash Partnership .

More info: www.latinncap.com