Skoda Kylaq-Rivalling Volkswagen Tera Gets 5-Star Rating from Latin NCAP

The Tera, Volkswagen's popular SUV, recently received a 5-star safety rating from Latin NCAP, which is a major accomplishment for the company in developing markets. Volkswagen's global SUV strategy is anticipated to heavily rely on the Tera, which is positioned as a direct competitor to the Skoda Kylaq and other small SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. The model's strong safety credentials may help its case for a future launch, even though it hasn't been confirmed for India yet. This development is especially significant because crash-test performance and safety equipment are becoming increasingly important. In this piece, we examine the significance of the Latin NCAP results, the Tera's safety rating, and its place in the competitive market.

Volkswagen Tera Crash Test Ratings

With segment-leading safety ratings of 89.88 per cent for adult protection, 87.25 per cent for child occupants, 75.77 per cent for pedestrians and vulnerable road users, and 84.76 per cent for safety assist performance, the Volkswagen Tera has been awarded a solid 5-star rating by Latin NCAP. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are optional on some trim levels, but six airbags and ESC are standard safety features.

The Tera performed well in terms of child safety. It received scores of 12 out of 12 for child seat fit, 9 out of 13 for vehicle-level evaluation, and 21.75 out of 24 for crash simulations. Installed in a rear-facing seat with ISOFIX and a support leg, the child dummy was protected from head contact, although there was some compromise in chest protection.

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The SUV was tested under a variety of conditions, including side and frontal collisions, side pole impacts, pedestrian safety, and whiplash resilience. Also evaluated were active safety technologies such as Lane Support, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Speed Assist, and Blind Spot Monitoring.

Overall, the Tera's structural performance was good, with stability in both the frame and the footwell area. Both front occupants had excellent head, neck, and knee protection. Whereas tibia protection was rated as adequate, driver and passenger chest protection were rated as marginal and good, respectively. Although the chest protection was only moderate, the Tera provided good protection for the head, abdomen, and pelvis in side-impact scenarios, including pole and deformable barrier tests. The bodyshell was judged to be structurally sound and maintained its shape well under additional load.

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AEB almost received full marks for demonstrating reliable, high-level performance under all test conditions. Despite their dependable performance, Blind Spot Detection and Lane Assist were not available to score according to Latin NCAP guidelines.

Volkswagen Tera: Powertrain

Volkswagen has not formally confirmed the engine and gearbox specifications for the Tera. Nevertheless, rumours indicate that the SUV might be propelled by a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, a three-cylinder unit with an estimated 115bhp of maximum power and 178Nm of peak torque.