The newly re-launched Jeep Compass has only scored a low NCAP Rating of 2 Stars in Europe."Apparently unimpressed by a range of issues with the Jeep, Euro NCAP awarded the SUV just two stars for overall crash safety. Among a field of European and Asian compact SUVs tested by NCAP since 2009 — and under new guidelines — the Jeep scored lowest for adult protection by a significant margin, with a score of 61 per cent. The Dacia Duster, which is not sold in Australia, achieved 74 per cent in this test — the second lowest score."
The facelifted Jeep Compass, on the other hand, achieved only two stars against the 2012 criteria, with the European body stating that it "underachieved" in most areas of Euro NCAP’s assessment.
According to the results, the compact SUV showed poor protection levels for passengers, particularly in the side pole test, while in pedestrian protection, it scored a "disappointing" 23 percent.
"Compact SUVs are the most popular sport-utility segment in Europe, but the Jeep Compass did not demonstrate itself as strong contender on safety in comparison to other tested competitors in the same category," Euro NCAP said in a statement.
Lenore Fletcher, Chrysler Australia's Director of Corporate Affairs, spoke with motoring.com.au this morning about the Jeep's rating.
"First and foremost, we truly believe that... the vehicle here would be an equivalent four-star [rating] in Australia," Fletcher said, referring to "modelling" that Chrysler Australia holds for the Compass.
Asked how Chrysler would respond to the low NCAP rating and whether the company would request Euro NCAP reassess the vehicle — perhaps with all the necessary data required — Fletcher advised that it was not her place to speak on behalf of Chrysler's head office in Auburn Hills. However, it was her opinion that "there is some room for discussion there."
Since Chrysler Australia is so certain the Compass can achieve a better result in ANCAP testing than Euro NCAP, would the importer arrange with the local testing authority to test the Compass in Australia?
"It's something that we're actually looking at, at the moment," says Fletcher. "We do believe that that vehicle — particularly the way that it's specified here in Australia — the integrity of the passenger cell itself should be rated more highly than that."
But an ANCAP test of the Compass could be some way off in the future, according to Fletcher.
"It's not a quick process to implement and it's not an inexpensive process to implement."
While the crash test result has come out of the blue, and Chrysler has been caught on the hop, Fletcher says that the company is not resigned to the Compass languishing behind in the SUV safety stakes.
"We won't be leaving it at that; we will be looking further into it."
Source Zimbio & motoring.com.au
To be fair the Compass was first launched back in 2006 and was given a 4 star rating in USA Tests back then, It is due for a full replacement in 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment