Fiat
Group Automobiles' attempts to push Jeep's Compass SUV
on European markets has received a significant blow with
the news that crash testing body EuroNCAP has awarded
the recently facelifted 'soft-roader' just 2 stars. In
total the Compass scored 61 percent for Adult Occupancy,
76 percent for Child Occupancy, 23 percent for
Pedestrian Safety and 43 percent for Safety Assist.
EuroNCAP has rejigged its
safety rating tests for 2012 and the Compass is one of
just two cars tested so far to this new criteria (the
other, Honda's new Civic, gained the maximum 5 star
rating). EuroNCAP has however also confirmed that five
cars tested last year also meet the 2012 criteria: the
BMW 1 Series, BMW X1, Ford Focus, Ford Ranger, Mercedes
M-class, Nissan LEAF, Subaru XV and Volvo V60.
In a scathing report,
EuroNCAP states that the Compass fell short of its
metrics in almost every area. "Cars based on older
technology, brushed up and marketed as new are not
providing the same levels as safety as the newest models
developed against the new targets," said Michiel van
Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General, in a statement.
"Consumers interested in a fair comparison will not be
fooled by these results."
The result comes on the back of a difficult recent
run in the safety stakes for Fiat Group Automobiles,
which had previously made achieving the top level of
available safety ratings for its new models a key
strategic plank. The new Jeep Grand Cherokee was awarded
4 stars last year, and was singled out for specific
criticism, while the new Fiat Panda also missed the top
spot and gained only 4 stars while its main rival, VW's
up! picked up the maximum 5-star score. Fiat's Freemont
minivan (a rebadged Dodge Journey) did, however, gain
all 5 stars. The saving grace for Fiat is that the
Compass is no more than than a niche player in Europe
and has only limited appeal outside the brand's
traditional customer base, who tend to overlook the
manufacturer's deficiencies.
"Since the revamp of
Euro NCAP’s rating in 2009, the safety organisation has
upped the ante in safety by raising its criteria for 5
stars annually," Euro NCAP said in a statement
yesterday. "In 2012, any car awarded 5 stars should
achieve an overall score of at least 80 percent, while
scoring at least 80 percent of the available points in
Adult Protection, 75 percent in Child Protection, 60
percent in Pedestrian Protection and 60 percent in
Safety Assist. This translates into significantly safer
vehicles for consumers today, in particular on
pedestrian protection offered where the average 5 star
car barely exceeded the 25 percent limit just a few
years back.
"The recently
refreshed Jeep Compass achieved only two stars against
the 2012 criteria, underachieving in most areas of Euro
NCAP’s assessment," continued the statement published on
the Euro NCAP website. "The compact SUV was tested with
an optional side thorax airbag but its test results
showed a poor protection levels, particularly in the
side pole test. In pedestrian protection, the Compass
scored a disappointing 23 percent. Compact SUVs are the
most popular sport-utility segment in Europe, but the
2011 Jeep Compass did not demonstrate itself as strong
contender on safety in comparison to other tested
competitors in the same category."
Euro NCAP Jeep
Compass - Crash
Testing Summary
Adult
occupant
The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal
impact. Structures in the dashboard presented a risk of
injury to the knees and femurs of both the driver and
passenger dummies and the car was penalised. The Compass
was tested with an optional side thorax airbag. In the
side pole impact, dummy readings of rib deflections
indicated a high risk of serious chest injury, even with
the airbag fitted, and the car scored no points in that
test. In the side barrier test, the car scored maximum
points. Euro NCAP has reviewed data supplied by Jeep and
concludes that scoring in the side barrier test is not
significantly affected by the airbag. The Compass is
equipped with an active head restraint. This senses when
the car has been struck and deploys the restraint to
reduce the distance between the head and the restraint.
However, Jeep did not provide evidence to demonstrate
that the system operates robustly over a range of speeds
and impact severities specified by Euro NCAP, so the
system was tested 'passively', without deployment. Test
results indicated marginal protection against whiplash
injuries in a rear impact.
Child occupant
Forward movement of the head of the 3 year dummy, sat in
a forward facing restraint, was not excessive in the
frontal impact. In the side impact, both the 3 year and
the 18 month dummies were properly contained within the
protective shells of their restraints, minimising the
risk of contact with parts of the car's interior. The
passenger airbag cannot be disabled. The risks of using
a rearward facing restraint in that seating position
without first disabling the airbag were explained in an
English-only label on only one side of the passenger sun
visor.
Pedestrian
The bumper scored no points for its protection of
pedestrians' legs. The front edge of the bonnet also
scored no points, offering poor protection in all areas
tested. The bonnet provided good protection in some
areas where a child's head might strike, but was poor or
marginal in others. In those areas where an adult's head
would strike, the bonnet was almost entirely poor. The
rating of the Compass is limited to two stars by its
performance in pedestrian protection.
Safety assist
Electronic Stability Control is standard equipment. A
seatbelt reminder is standard equipment for the driver
and front passenger seats but did not meet Euro NCAP's
requirements, and was not rewarded. A speed limitation
device is not offered on the Jeep Compass.
ItaliaspeedTV
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Jeep Compass
Euro NCAP Crash Test /
Jeep
Compass Euro NCAP ESC Test
