Euro NCAP crash testing has given the Jeep Wrangler and Fiat Panda one and zero star crash ratings respectively.
The 2019 Wrangler only scored 50% in adult occupant tests and 69% in child occupant tests, but it was the Fiat Panda which performed worse – only 45% and 16% in adult and child occupant tests respectively.
Neither model scored higher than 49% in vulnerable road user tests, the Wrangler cold only achieve 32% score in safety assist tests, but it was again the Panda unable to get higher than a dismal 7% with no rear seatbelt pretensioners, load-limiters, no permissible rear audible seatbelt warning, or any form of lane support of collision avoidance.
The new Wrangler is due to launch in Q1 next year in Australia, and has sold over 1000 previous-generation units in 2018 according to VFACTS reports – the current version was tested by ANCAP in 2012 and only has a four-star rating.
Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) chief executive James Goodwin tells AutoTalk the Wrangler remains an unknown for local ratings.
“We’re working with Fiat Chrysler Australia to determine the safety specification of models to be supplied locally,” he says.
“The European result is disappointing for a newly designed vehicle, and I’d encourage FCA to use the opportunity to improve the safety result in time for its Australasian launch,” Goodwin explains.
“Until the local specifications are confirmed, ANCAP is unable to assess if the European test results and subsequent star rating can be applied to local models,” he adds.
It could only add speed assistance in Euro NCAP testing, and still lacked head-protecting side airbags in the rear, although did have the audible rear seatbelt warning.
The Jeep’s design proved potentially fatal for occupants, with ‘weak’ driver chest protection and ‘marginal’ driver leg protection in the frontal offset test, ‘poor’ rear passenger chest and ‘marginal’ driver chest protection in the full-width test.
“In the frontal offset test, the connection between the A-pillar and the trans-facia beam was damaged in a way that indicated the structure would be unable to withstand higher loads,” Euro NCAP reports.
“Similarly, deformation of the footwell showed that the structure had reached the limit of its integrity.”
“Although dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of the driver and passenger dummy, structures in the dashboard were thought to present a risk to occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions, and protection of this body area was rated as marginal.”
“For the rear passenger, dummy readings showed weak protection of the neck and, combined with high shoulder-belt loads, poor protection of the chest,” the report confirms.
“In the side barrier test, the Wrangler scored maximum points, with good protection of all critical body areas. No pole test was conducted on the Wrangler.”
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