Euro NCAP: ONE Star For New Jeep Wrangler, ZERO For Fiat Panda

The famous ‘death wobble’ isn’t the only major issue plaguing the new generation Jeep Wrangler, as the SUV isn’t as safe as one would think. In fact, Euro NCAP tested it alongside other vehicles and gave it only 1 star.

The rating was pulled down in the Safety Assist category, as the 2019 Jeep Wrangler lacks automatic emergency braking and lane assistance.

“It is truly disappointing to see a brand new car being put on sale in 2018 with no autonomous braking system and no lane assistance”, commented Euro NCAP’s Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen. “It is high time we saw a product from the Fiat-Chrysler Group offering safety to rival its competitors.”

Jeep’s all-new Wrangler didn’t do so well in the Adult Occupant, Child Occupant and Pedestrian categories either, where it scored 50 percent, 69 percent and 49 percent, respectively.

ZERO Stars for the Fiat Panda

Strike two for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles came from the Fiat Panda in Euro NCAP’s latest round of tests. The vehicle scored a disastrous 0 stars and was regarded as “a dubious distinction matched only by the Punto in 2017”, stated European car safety specialists.

FIVE Star Models with Problems

Euro NCAP also crash-tested the Hyundai Santa Fe and found that there was an issue with the side curtain airbags, which could be torn during deployment in vehicles equipped with a panoramic roof. The Korean automaker is said to have come up with a fix, and early cars will be subjected to a recall to correct this problem.

Meanwhile, the driver knee airbag is said not to have deployed correctly in the new BMW X5. The Munich-based auto firm’s SUV thus follows in the footsteps of the 5-Series, which had a similar problem when tested last year, as the airbag provided “little additional protection to the driver’s legs”.

Audi, Jaguar, Peugeot and Volvo Have Set New Safety Standards

Other vehicles tested by Euro NCAP were the Audi Q3, Jaguar I-Pace, Peugeot 508 and Volvo V60/S60. All of them were awarded five-star safety ratings, and were praised by Euro NCAP.

“To be fair, the Audi Q3, Jaguar I-Pace, Peugeot 508 and Volvo V60/S60 have set the standard against which others are judged this time, and other manufacturers could do well to follow their example”, commented van Ratingen. “The I-Pace, especially, demonstrates that future vehicles will be good for the environment, but also provide high levels of safety.”