Kia Carens Global NCAP safety rating: only three stars for the MPV
This time, it was the turn of the new Kia Carens to undergo Global NCAP's rigorous crash testing. Unfortunately, despite featuring six airbags, the Carens failed to come out with flying colours in the GNCAP safety rating.
By Divyank K. Bansal
Despite featuring six airbags, the Kia Carens failed to come out with flying colours in the Global NCAP crash test.
Global NCAP (GNCAP) has released the last set of results for the #SaferCarsForIndia campaign under its current test protocols. Next month onwards, the GNCAP assessment protocols will also include side-impact, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and pedestrian protection requirements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxZGudorY7c
This time, the new Kia Carens underwent GNCAP's rigorous crash testing. Unfortunately, it failed to receive a five-star rating. The Kia Carens secured three stars (out of five) for adult occupant protection and three stars (out of five) for child occupant protection, which amounted to an overall safety rating of just three stars. The made-in-India Carens was tested in its most basic safety specification, featuring two frontal airbags, two side-body airbags, and two side head protection airbags. ESC is also a standard fit in this specification. The Carens also underwent side-impact testing and fulfilled the UN95 regulatory requirement.
Due to the following assessment, the Carens lost many points on the test. It was revealed to have an unstable structure and offered marginal protection to the driver’s chest and weak protection to the driver’s feet. Global NCAP further noted that the model is sold with a lap belt for the rear-centre seat, instead of a three-point seatbelt.
Sharing his thoughts on the Carens' performance, Alejandro Furas (Secretary-General, Global NCAP) said, 'Global NCAP welcomes Kia’s decision to make six airbags a standard fit in the Carens ahead of a regulatory requirement. However, we expected a better performance from this model. It remains a cause for concern that global car brands such as Kia, which normally achieve five-star ratings in other markets, are still not reaching this level in India.'
Read more:
Renault Kiger and other made-in-India cars score four stars in the GNCAP crash test
Tata Punch awarded a 5-star rating in Global NCAP crash test
