Brazil-made Citroen C3 Receives Zero Stars In Latin NCAP Crash Test

The Citroen C3 has been crash tested by Latin NCAP and the result is a worrying zero star. The car that was tested though, was made in Brazil but based on the same platform as the one made in India – CMP (Common Modular Platform). India and Brazil are the only two markets where the new C3 is manufactured. While the Indian-made C3 is exported to the Asian and African markets, the one manufactured in Brazil (and crash tested) caters to the South American markets and it is currently on sale in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

The C3 that was tested came with 2 airbags and ESC as standard and was tested in frontal impact, side impact, whiplash, pedestrian protection and ESC.

It scored a 30.52% in Adult Occupant safety and 12.10% in Child Occupant safety. It also received a 49.74% in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users and 34.88% in Safety Assist.

Acko Drive reached out to Stellantis for a comment and the company declined to say anything regarding this matter.

The frontal impact showed weak protection to the driver chest and marginal to the passenger chest probably explained by the lack of pretensioners. The structure and the footwell area were rated as unstable. Pole impact was not performed as the car did not offer standard side head protection, not even as optional. Whiplash protection to the adult neck showed poor performance. Child occupant showed almost full protection, but the dynamic points were affected because of the poor marking of ISOFIX anchorages for Child Restraint Systems (CRS). Airbag warning marking in for the passenger seat does not meet Latin NCAP requirements and airbag disconnection in passenger seat position is not possible.

Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP said, “It is alarming how Stellantis repeatedly dismisses basic safety for Latin Americans and unacceptable that their vehicles aim so low in safety while they know very well how to produce affordable and much safer cars.”