Disappointing zero star for first electric vehicle, three stars for Kia New Sportage and Mitsubishi returns to five stars
The New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean, Latin NCAP, sixth and final publication for 2022 shows a concerning zero stars result for the JAC E10X, improvable three stars for the Kia New Sportage and five stars for the Mitsubishi Outlander.
The first Electric Vehicle tested by Latin NCAP, the JAC E10x also called e-JS1, E-S1, produced in China and/or assembled in Mexico, achieved zero stars. The JAC E10X that offers two airbags as standard, achieved 0.00% in Adult Occupant, 6,34% in Child Occupant, 20.25% in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users and 6.98% in Safety Assist. The car was tested in frontal impact, side impact, whiplash, pedestrian protection. The car does not offer Electronic Stability Control as standard. The model showed unstable structure and unstable footwell area in the frontal impact with poor protection to driver’s chest, which means a high probability of life-threatening injuries leading to zero points in the frontal crash for adult safety. The emergency cut-off system to prevent electric shock risk after a crash did not work in the frontal crash test, creating additional serious risks that should not be overlooked. The result is valid for the electric and Internal Combustion version of the car, called S1. The assessment was done without any cooperation from the car manufacturer.
The Kia New Sportage produced in South Korea and Slovakia, achieved three stars. The Sportage that now offers six airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard, achieved 82.31% in Adult Occupant, 71.57% in Child Occupant, 47.56 % in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users and 55.81% in Safety Assist. The car was tested in frontal impact, side impact, side pole impact, whiplash, pedestrian protection and ESC. The Sportage was assessed as a corporate twin of the Hyundai Tucson recently tested by Latin NCAP earlier in 2022. The manufacturer decided to standardize the 6 airbags and ESC, among other items, as a consequence of Latin NCAP test of the Tucson. The car has some optional safety equipment that in the case that the manufacturer makes them more available it might bring a better rating for the New Sportage. The model was tested as voluntary decision of the manufacturer and the result is valid for all production plants. This result is valid as from VIN: KNAPU81CMN7093201 (start of production July 15th, 2022) for the vehicles produced in South Korea plant and for VIN: U5YPX81DBPL089757 (start of production September 16th, 2022) for vehicles produced in the Slovakia plant.
The Mitsubishi Outlander made in Japan, achieved five stars. The Outlander with seven airbags (two frontal, one driver knee airbag, two side body and two side head curtain airbags) and ESC as standard, achieved 90.5% in Adult Occupant, 91.33% in Child Occupant, 54.71% in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users and 84.17% in Safety Assist. The car was tested in frontal impact, side impact, side pole impact, whiplash, pedestrian protection, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) city and interurban, Blind Spot Detection and ESC. The Outlander showed overall a good performance, stable structures in frontal impact, adequate to good protection in the four crash and dynamic tests for adults and almost full protection for child occupants. The model was tested as voluntary decision of the manufacturer.
Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP said:
"Latin NCAP is highly concerned with the JAC’s result and the lack of response from the car manufacturer. The myth that usually consumers relates EV to high tech and safer vehicles was proved to be mistaken and reaffirms that like any other car their safety must be assessed. Latin NCAP openly invites JAC to either improve this car or any other model in order to show consumers that JAC ‘s fleet has better safety performing cars.
The updated standard equipment of the Kia New Sportage proves how powerful Latin NCAP tests are, as by assessing the twin corporate, the Tucson, with only two airbags and ABS, encouraged Kia to standardize six airbags and ESC in the Sportage. We welcome Outlander’s result and hope that Mitsubishi brings this performance and score to lower priced models that usually are the large volume of sales. Vehicle safety labelling including Latin NCAP star rating is the most efficient tool to bring safer cars to the region earlier than regulations and as a result of a voluntary decision of the car manufacturer”.
Stephan Brodziak, Latin NCAP Chairman said:
“As consumers we are very grateful to Latin NCAP, because thanks to the programme it is possible to detect risks to the life and integrity of the population such as the one represented by the JAC E10X model. It strikes us that a company as new as JAC has decided to bet on such poor safety for a vehicle with which they were surely seeking to expand their market coverage among electric vehicles. For the good of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean, I hope that this result is useful, in addition to alerting consumers, so that the JAC improves the safety of this model and all the others that they offer in our countries.
Regarding the Kia New Sportage, although it achieved three star rating, it still has a lot of room for improvement in terms of protection performance provided. Hopefully Kia opts for a greater protection ambition for the models offered in Latin America. We congratulate Mitsubishi for achieving the highest rating, it is always nice to recognize models that have, from the basic version, adequate safety performance for human vulnerability, regardless of where the model in question is marketed. We hope that the entire range of Mitsubishi models in Latin America and the Caribbean have the same levels of occupant protection and that they can further increase the safety that Mitsubishi vehicles provide to vulnerable road users”.
JAC E10X / e-JS1 / E-S1 / S1 (2 airbags)
The model showed unstable structure and unstable footwell area in the frontal impact with poor protection to driver’s chest leading to zero points in the frontal crash for adult safety. In the side impact the adult protection was low as chest and pelvis showed weak protection. Whiplash test showed poor protection to the neck as the manufacturer fail to prove that the structure of the car will prevent a risk for the occupants in a rear crash. The car does not offer side head protection airbags so the side pole impact was not performed. The car does not offer Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and no rescue sheet available, as well as no certification of the structural performance in rear impact. Child Occupant protection showed low performance because the manufacturer did not recommend the Child Restraint Systems (CRS) to be used in the tests. The vehicle does not offer the proper marking for ISOFIX anchorages according to Latin NCAP’s requirements, it does not have airbag disabling switch when a Rear Ward Facing CRS is installed in the front seat. Pedestrian Protection showed low performance and Latin NCAP did not have the manufacturer’s involvement and cooperation for this key part of the assessment. The car does not offer Electronic Stability Control as standard however it was tested and the requirements are barely met. Seatbelt Reminder (SBR) is only standard for driver and no Speed Limitation System is available. Blind Spot Detection and Lane Support Systems are not available. The car claims to offer an emergency cut-off system to prevent electric shock risk after a crash but in the frontal crash the system did not work, like it would not have been present and in the side impact the cut-off indicated that was triggered but the car still had energy from the battery to keep running.
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Download crash test images
Kia New Sportage (6 airbags)
The New Sportage received the standard six airbags and ESC almost at the same time as its corporate twin the Tucson tested earlier in 2022 as a consequence of Latin NCAP selecting the Tucson with standard two airbags for testing. The New Sportage was also available in some markets with just two airbags, but the car maker decided to quickly update it to standard six airbags and ESC after Latin NCAP selected and tested the Tucson with two airbags earlier in 2022. The New Sportage also offers now as standard, on top of the ESC and six airbags, 3 point belts in all seating positions, i-size marking, SBR for both front passengers and speed limitation system. For the New Sportage, Latin NCAP did not test optional equipment like Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Support Systems and Road Edge Detection, like in the Tucson as their availability does not meet Latin NCAP requirements. The Sportage was assessed in frontal test showing similar performance than its twin Hyundai Tucson however the head deceleration showed slight differences from the Tucson, although maintaining a very similar occupant protection score. The pole side impact showed same performance as well as Pedestrian protection. The lack of driving assistance technologies explain the three star result of the New Sportage. The result is valid as from VIN: KNAPU81CMN7093201 (start of production July 15th, 2022) for the vehicles produced in South Korea plant and for VIN: U5YPX81DBPL089757 (start of production September 16th, 2022) for vehicles produced in the Slovakia plant.
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Download crash test images
Mitsubishi Outlander (7 airbags)
The Outlander showed overall a good performance, stable structures in frontal impact, adequate to good protection in the four crash and dynamic tests for adults and almost full protection for child occupants. Pedestrian Protection was average and Diving Assistance technologies showed a good performance. The car is also fitted with a center airbag but only in some versions and in some markets
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Download crash test images
About Latin NCAP
The Latin New Car Assessment Programme (Latin NCAP) was launched in 2010 to develop a regional system of independent crashworthiness and safety rating across Latin America and Caribbean (LAC). Latin NCAP replicates similar consumer testing programmes developed over the last thirty years in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, and which have proved to be very effective in improving the safety of motor vehicles. Since 2010 Latin NCAP has published the results of more than 150 models, all results available at www.latinncap.com/results.
Latin NCAP acknowledges the support received by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP), International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT), FIA Foundation, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Road Safety Initiative. Latin NCAP is an Associate member of Global NCAP and supports the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety and the Stop the Crash Partnership.
More info: www.latinncap.com
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