It was therefore a slightly mixed result, while the Thema (which will be sold in this specification in the UK and Ireland with its original Chrysler 300 name) and the Fiat Freemont (a rebadged Dodge Journey) both achieved high scores on the way to claiming a prestigious EuroNCAP 5-star ranking while the Voyager (to be sold in the UK and Ireland as the Chrysler Voyager) missed out on the party and received only 4-stars. The Voyager was the only one of the twelve cars tested this month by EuroNCAP not to achieve a 5-star ranking - a diverse group of cars that also included a pick up (Ford's new Ranger) which claimed the top safety honours for the first time. It was also a step backwards, as the minivan that the Voyager has replaced in the Lancia range, the Phedra, had previously collected a 5-star ranking.

EuroNCAP paid special attention to one particular safety feature of the Freemont, Thema and Voyager (as well as on the Mercedes M-Class which was also being tested) as they are all equipped with 'active bonnets' in order to improve pedestrian protection. On these cars, sensors detect when a pedestrian has been struck and actuators lift the bonnet to provide greater clearance to hard structures underneath. The three Italian cars however scored at the bottom end of the twelve cars tested in terms of pedestrian safety.

FIAT FREEMONT

The Freemont (a rebadged Dodge Journey) scored 83 percent for adult occupancy, 82 percent for child occupancy, 50 percent for pedestrian protection and 71 percent for safety assist. That added up to a very solid 5 star rating, the highest available.

EuroNCAP verdict

Adult occupant
The passenger cell of the Freemont remained stable in the frontal impact. Although dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of the driver and passenger, the steering column presented a hazard for occupants of different sizes and those sat in different positions, and protection for this body area was rated as marginal. Maximum points were scored for protection of the front passenger, with good protection of all body areas. In Freemont scored maximum points in the side barrier test. In the more severe side pole impact, dummy readings of rib compression indicated weak protection of the chest. The Freemont has an 'active' head restraint, which moves forward in the event of a rear-end collision to provide greater support for the neck. In Euro NCAP's tests, the system worked well and protection against whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision was rated as good.

Child occupant
Based on dummy readings from the impact tests, the Freemont scored maximum points for protection of both the 18 month and 3 year old. In the frontal test, forward movement of the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward facing restraint, was not excessive. In the side barrier test, both child dummies were properly contained within the shells of their restraints, minimising the likelihood of dangerous head contacts. The front passenger airbag cannot be disabled, so a rearward facing child restraint cannot be used in that seating position. The dangers of using a rearward facing seat in that position are not labelled in all the required languages.

Pedestrian
The Freemont has an 'active' bonnet. Sensors detect when a pedestrian has been struck and actuators lift the bonnet to provide greater clearance to hard structures underneath. FIAT showed that the system detected pedestrians of different statures and operated over a range speeds, so the Freemont was tested with the system deployed. In those areas likely to be struck by the head of a child, the car provided protection which was predominantly poor or marginal. For the head of an adult, protection was good in some areas but poor in others. The bumper scored maximum points for the protection it offered pedestrians' legs. However, the front edge of the bonnet gave poor protection and scored no points.

Safety assist
Electronic stability control is standard and met Euro NCAP's test requirements. A seatbelt reminder is standard for the driver and front passenger seats. A speed limitation device is not available on the Freemont.

LANCIA VOYAGER

The Lancia Voyager scored 79 percent for adult occupancy, 67 percent for child occupancy, 49 percent for pedestrian protection and 71 percent for safety assist. The Voyager is a rebadged version of Chrysler's Town & Country minivan (it will be sold in the UK and Ireland as a Chrysler), and that average score meant that it missed out on the 5-star rating and had to settle for 4-stars.

EuroNCAP verdict

Adult occupant
The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal impact. Dummy readings indicated poor protection for the knees and femurs of the passenger occupant. The steering column and facia also provided hazards to the driver occupant. The Voyager scored maximum points for the protection it provided in the side barrier test. In the more severe side pole impact, protection was good in most body areas and adequate for the chest. The front seat and active head restraints provided marginal protection against whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision.

Child occupant
Based on dummy readings in the frontal and side impact tests, the Voyager scored full points for protection of the 3 year old child. Forward movement of the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward-facing restraint, was not excessive and both the 3 year and 18 month dummies were properly contained by their restraints in the side impact, minimising the risk of dangerous head contact. However, the ISOFIX child restraints are mounted on support stands, the legs of which rest on storage compartments in the floor of the rear seating positions. For the 18 month dummy, the cover of this storage compartment partially collapsed during the frontal impact and Euro NCAP awarded no points for compatibility of the restraints with the vehicle. Lancia has stated that they will implement improvements to eliminate this concern. The passenger airbag cannot be disabled, preventing the fitment of a rearward-facing child restraint in that seating position. The sun-visor label warning of the dangers of using a rearward facing child seat in that position were presented in the relevant EU languages and did not meet the Euro NCAP requirements.

Pedestrian
The Voyager is equipped with an 'active' bonnet. Sensors in the bumper determine when a pedestrian has been struck and actuators lift the bonnet to provide greater clearance to hard structures underneath. Lancia showed that the system worked for a wide range of pedestrian statures and over a range of speeds, so the car was tested with the system deployed. Although some areas were good, most areas likely to be struck by a pedestrian's head offered poor protection. The area likely to be struck by a pedestrian's hip and pelvis was poor in all areas tested and scored no points. The bumper offered good protection to a pedestrian's legs.

Safety assist
Electronic stability control is standard and met Euro NCAP's requirements. Speed limitation devices are not availble. There is a seatbelt reminder system for the driver and passenger seats only.

LANCIA THEMA

The Lancia Thema (Chrysler's recently facelifted 300 series sedan which will retain its American market nametag for the UK and Irish markets) scored 83 percent for adult occupancy, 77 percent for child occupancy, 59 percent for pedestrian protection and 71 percent for safety assist. That handed it a coveted 5-star rating.

EuroNCAP verdict

Adult occupant
The passenger compartment of the Thema remained stable in the frontal impact. Although dummy readings were good, analysis of the data showed that the head of the driver dummy had 'bottomed out' the airbag i.e. the airbag was not sufficiently inflated to prevent a contact, through the flattened airbag, with the steering wheel rim. The car was penalised and head protection was rated as adequate. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both front seat occupants. Lancia were able to show that a similar level of protection would be provided for occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions. In the side barrier impact, the Thema scored maximum points. In the more severed side pole test, dummy readings indicated marginal levels of protection for the chest and abdomen. The protection provided by the seat and head restraint against whiplash injuries was also rated as marginal.

Child occupant
Forward movement of the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward facing restraint, was not excessive. In the side barrier test, both dummies were properly contained within the shells of their restraints, mimimising the risk of dangerous head contacts. The passenger airbag cannot be disabled so a rearward facing restraint cannot be used in that seating position. The dangers of doing so are clearly explained in a permanently attached label.

Pedestrian
The Thema is equipped with an 'active' bonnet. Sensors in the bumper determine when a pedestrian has been struck and actuators lift the bonnet to provide greater clearance to hard structures underneath. Lancia showed that the system worked for a wide range of pedestrian statures and over a range of speeds, so the car was tested with the system deployed. In those areas likely to be struck by the head of a child or an adult, the bonnet provided good protection. The bumper also provided good protection to pedestrians's legs, and scored maximum points. However, the front edge of the bonnet scored nothing, providing poor protection in all areas tested.

Safety assist
The Thema has electronic stability control as standard equipment, and the system met Euro NCAP's test requirements. A seatbelt reminder is standard for the driver and front passenger seats. There is no speed limitation device for the Thema.

ItaliaspeedTV: Lancia Thema EuroNCAP Crash Test / Lancia Voyager EuroNCAP Crash Test / Fiat Freemont EuroNCAP Crash Test