Hyundai joins the five star club with the Tucson while Citroën Basalt adds to Stellantis’ poor results

10.14.2025

The New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean, Latin NCAP, publishes today the sixth crash tests results for 2025 with first ever Hyundai’s five star in the Programme’s history for the Hyundai Tucson and a zero star result for the Citroën Basalt. So far, the 10 Stellantis models tested by Latin NCAP under the latest protocol in effect since 2020, have not managed to obtain more than two stars.

The facelifted Hyundai Tucson, produced in Korea and Czech Republic, achieved five stars. The Tucson that offers 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard, now adds optional ADAS in the volume needed to score Latin NCAP points. It achieved 83.98% in Adult Occupant, 91.62% in Child Occupant, 75.08% in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users and 96.28% in Safety Assist. The Tucson was first tested in 2022 under the current Latin NCAP protocols. At that time the model just offered 2 standard frontal airbags and scored a zero star rating. Hyundai standardized the side body and curtain airbags as well as ESC and the model was re-assessed in 2022 achieving three stars. At that time the Tucson offered optional ADAS but its volume was not enough to score points in Latin NCAP. In 2025 Hyundai introduced the facelift of the model including a larger availability of ADAS technologies, meeting Latin NCAP requirements in relation to volume. Following Hyundai’s request Latin NCAP reassessed the updated Tucson, the model was tested as a voluntary decision of the manufacturer, and the result is valid for units from VIN KMHJB81DASU349493 and date April 5^th 2024 (Korea and Czech Republic productions).

The Tucson was assessed in frontal impact, side impact, side pole impact, whiplash, pedestrian protection and ESC back in 2022. In 2025 pedestrian protection was reassessed following the facelift and confirming its good performance from the previous version. A frontal crash test with a hybrid version was performed to assess the internal changes and all ADAS technologies such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) for Vulnerable Road Users (VRU), AEB City and inter urban, Lane Support Systems (LSS) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD) were also assessed. In the frontal test the structure showed unstable performance, and despite this, the score and rest of the performance was robust enough to secure the five stars. The structural performance is explained by the heavier condition of the frontal test due to the extra elements in the powertrain of the hybrid version like electric motor and battery as well as other components. The vehicle showed robust performance AEB VRU and AEB city and interurban scenarios. LSS and BSD achieved full score.

The Citroën Basalt, produced in Brazil, achieved zero stars. The Basalt that offers 4 airbags and ESC as standard, achieved 39.37% in Adult Occupant, 58.35% in Child Occupant, 53.38% in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users and 34.88% in Safety Assist. The model does not offer side head airbags and ADAS technologies, not even as optional. The model was assessed in frontal impact, side impact, whiplash, pedestrian protection and ESC. Side pole impact test was not performed and was rated zero points because of the lack of side head protection in front and rear rows. The Basalt showed unstable structure in the frontal crash test presenting an asymmetrical structural reinforcement placed in the lower sill close to the A-pillar on the driver side. The front passenger pretensioner did not work as expected and resulted in weak chest protection. Child occupant protection could not prevent Q3 head contact in the side impact test, resulting in zero points for the head in that test configuration. The model does not offer passenger airbag disconnection switch. The Seat Belt Reminder, that is only available for the driver, could not score points as it did not match Latin NCAP requirements.

The Adult Occupant and Safety Assist boxes could not add enough points to achieve more than zero stars and both are responsible for the zero star result. The Citroën Basalt is another example that, despite the model offers side protection body airbags, the full protection offered for the adult occupants is at the level of zero stars.

The Citroën Basalt is also produced in India and offers 6 airbags as standard.

Latin NCAP tests the most basic passive safety specification of the models since 2010 and strongly recommends to buy those versions with side head protection and equipped with tested good performing ADAS technologies, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking.

Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP said:

“First five star result for Hyundai in Latin NCAP demonstrates the manufacturer’s efforts to introduce a dramatic change towards safer cars and it is welcomed by Latin NCAP and consumers. We are looking forward to Hyundai’s next models to keep the line of safer cars. On the other hand, Stellantis exposes itself as a manufacturer that does not prioritize its customers’ safety. Unfortunately, with this Citroën Basalt result, it is clear that for Stellantis, Latin American’s lives do not matter as much as Indian lives.

Basalt´s low safety result became visible only because Latin NCAP decided to test it with its own funds. If Latin NCAP would not have tested the first Tucson, probably improvements would not reached the market as they did. These are good examples and the main reason for a mandatory vehicle safety labelling programme in the region”. 

Stephan Brodziak, Latin NCAP Chairman said:

“The contrast between Hyundai and Stellantis illustrates two very different corporate mindsets. Hyundai made a deliberate decision to raise the safety standards for its customers: the Tucson went from zero to five stars in just three years, after adding more airbags, Electronic Stability Control, and widely available ADAS technologies. That is a corporate decision that puts people’s lives first.

Stellantis, on the other hand, continues to make choices that directly compromise the safety of its Latin American customers. Ten models tested since 2020 —including the Citroën Basalt, which showed an unstable structure, poor side protection, and no ADAS— confirms a corporate policy that maintains much lower safety standards than those offered in other regions.

Latin American consumers are subject to the same biomechanical tolerances to trauma as those in Europe or India, where Stellantis provides higher standard protection. It is time for the company to act responsibly and adopt global safety standards that guarantee the same right to life and protection, regardless of the market.”

Hyundai Tucson (6 airbags) - from VIN KMHJB81DASU349493 and date April 5^th 2024 (Korea and Czech Republic productions)

Read the full crash test report

Watch the crash test video

Download crash test images

Citroën Basalt (4 airbags)

Read the full crash test report

Watch the crash test video

Download crash test images

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NCAP25

Latin NCAP is pleased to support NCAP25, the Global NCAP World Congress, which will be held in Shanghai, China this week. Following the success of NCAP24 in Munich, NCAP25 continues the momentum of stakeholder collaboration, multi-sector dialogue, and vehicle safety innovation.

Hosted in partnership with C-NCAP and CATARC, NCAP25 brings together NCAP representatives, policymakers, manufacturers, consumer advocates, civil society leaders, and technology innovators from across the world to align on vehicle safety priorities.

More information: https://www.globalncap.org/ncap25