The New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (Latin NCAP) has given the Citroen C3 Aircross SUV – made in Brazil – a zero-star safety rating. The C3 Aircross, recently rebranded as the Aircross in India, is a compact SUV measuring 4,300mm. As part of necessary upgrades, the Aircross brings a new naturally aspirated petrol engine, automatic climate control, rear AC vents, seatbelt reminders for all occupants, and six airbags as standard. It made its global debut over a year ago in India and went on sale here in the second half of 2023 at Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom) starting price. Riding on the CMP modular platform, the Aircross is the company's second model for India under the C Cubed programme. It is exported to overseas markets as completely built units (CBUs).
Having said that, the Brazil-spec Citroen C3 Aircross does not inspire confidence when it comes to safety. For Brazil, Citroen does not offer the same features compared to its Indian counterpart. The model tested in Brazil was equipped with two airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard. While the vehicle offered Speed Assist Systems as optional, it missed out on lane support assist and autonomous emergency braking, even as optional equipment.
Citroen C3 Aircross: Adult Occupant Protection Test Results
The Brazil-spec Aircross got 13.20 points in adult occupant protection (AOP), where the co-driver's chest received 'weak' protection in the event of an offset frontal impact with a deformable barrier. In the side impact test, there was 'relevant intrusion in the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injuries to its occupants'. As for the whiplash test, the testers gave zero points because of the 'poor' protection given to the adult's neck. Latin NCAP did not perform the side pole impact test as the vehicle lacked side head protection in the front and rear rows.
Also Read: Citroen Aircross SUV Launched at Rs 8.49 Lakh in India, Drops the 'C3' in its Name
Citroen C3 Aircross: Child Occupant Protection Test Results
As far as child occupant protection (COP) goes, the Citroen C3 Aircross scored 5.57 points. It got 0 out of 24 points in the dynamic test and, in that context, Latin NCAP pointed out that the ISOFIX anchorages markings did not meet Latin NCAP requirements. Besides, Citroen has yet to inform the agency of any plans to fix the issue. In the Child Restraint Systems (CRS) test, the model secured 3.57 out of 12 points as most of the CRSs tested for installation failed. Plus, the car did not have a passenger airbag disconnection. In the vehicle assessment test, it got 2 out of 13 points.
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The zero-star safety rating of the Citroen C3 Aircross resulted from low scores across categories such as 33.01 per cent in AOP and 11.37 per cent in COP as mentioned before, as well as 49.57 per cent in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users and 34.88 per cent in Safety Assist. In the pedestrian protection evaluation, the car met Pedestrian protection UN127 regulations but offered mainly 'marginal, adequate and weak protection' to the head. Upper leg protection was 'weak', while lower leg protection was 'good'.
Compared to the Brazil-spec C3 Aircross, the India-spec Aircross comes with ISOFIX child seat anchors, 6 airbags, and over 40 safety features such as an electronic stability program (ESP), tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and hill-hold assist.
Update
In an official statement, Stellantis India said: 'At Stellantis, we remain dedicated to offering customers clean, safe, and affordable mobility with products that fulfil the most stringent regulations across the world. We strive to enhance the safety features of each new generation of vehicles. As part of our ongoing product improvement efforts, we consider the new third-party assessments and integrate proven technological solutions into our engineering process where relevant. Stellantis believes there is no single way to measure vehicle safety; third-party assessments are one of many inputs used when designing the safety of our vehicles.
'In India, the safety of our customers is at the core of everything we do. Our vehicles come with six airbags, ISOFIX, and a rear seatbelt reminder across the entire lineup. The newly launched Citroën Basalt, with its 4-star Bharat NCAP rating, exemplifies this commitment to safety, innovation, and engineering excellence.
'We take pride in delivering vehicles that combine safety, performance, and advanced features, tailored for Indian consumers. Every vehicle we develop in India reflects our deep understanding of local needs and aspirations, designed independently to meet the country’s unique regulations and priorities.'
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