The much-anticipated Citroen eC3, a recently launched electric hatchback in India, has received a shocking zero-star rating for adult occupant protection and a meager one-star rating for child occupant safety in the latest round of crash tests conducted by Global NCAP. This dismal performance raises serious concerns about the car’s safety credentials and highlights the importance of prioritizing safety features in electric vehicles.
This article delves deep into the details of the eC3’s crash test results, analyzing the specific areas of weakness and exploring the implications for potential buyers.
Adult Occupant Protection: A Glaring Lack of Safety Features
While the eC3’s bodyshell was deemed “stable” by Global NCAP, indicating its ability to withstand further impact, the car’s overall score in adult occupant protection suffered significantly due to a lack of essential safety features and inadequate protection in crucial areas.
Here’s a breakdown of the eC3’s performance in the adult occupant protection test:
- Head and Neck: The car offered “good” protection to the driver’s and passenger’s head and neck, a positive aspect.
- Chest: The protection level for the driver’s chest was rated as “weak,” and for the passenger’s chest, it was even worse at “poor.” This is a major safety concern, as chest injuries can be life-threatening in car accidents.
- Knees: The protection offered to the driver’s knees was deemed “marginal,” while the passenger’s knees received “good” protection. This inconsistency raises questions about the car’s overall design and protection uniformity.
- Tibias: The driver’s tibias showed both “marginal” and “good” protection depending on the severity of the impact, while the passenger’s tibias received “good” protection.
- Footwell Area: The eC3’s footwell area was rated as “unstable,” indicating a potential risk of foot and ankle injuries in a collision.
Missing Safety Features:
A significant factor contributing to the poor adult occupant protection rating is the lack of crucial safety features in the Citroen eC3. Here are some key missing elements:
- Side Airbags: The eC3 currently doesn’t offer side airbags, which are essential for protecting occupants in side-impact collisions.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC): This critical system, which helps maintain vehicle stability during maneuvers and prevents loss of control, is absent in the eC3.
- Inadequate Seatbelt System: The seatbelt restraint system in the eC3 failed to meet Global NCAP’s minimum requirements, potentially compromising passenger safety.
Citroen has announced that all future models in their Indian lineup will come equipped with six airbags as standard starting July 2024. However, this doesn’t address the safety concerns for existing eC3 owners.
Child Occupant Protection: Mixed Results and Missing Essentials
The eC3’s performance in the child occupant protection test was marginally better than the adult occupant rating, but still far from ideal. Let’s explore the breakdown:
Frontal Impact: The child seat for the 3-year-old dummy, installed facing forward, failed to prevent head exposure during the frontal impact. This is a major safety concern.
Rearward-Facing Child Seat: The child seat for the 1.5-year-old dummy, positioned rearward-facing, provided “full protection” to the head, highlighting the importance of proper child seat installation.
Missing Child Safety Features:
Similar to the adult occupant section, the eC3 lacks several essential child safety features:
3-Point Seatbelts in All Seating Positions: The eC3 doesn’t offer 3-point seatbelts in all seating positions, which are superior to lap belts in terms of child safety.
ISOFIX Mounts: ISOFIX child seat anchor points are not available as standard in the eC3. These mounts provide a secure and reliable way to install child seats, enhancing child safety.
Passenger Airbag Disconnection: The eC3 doesn’t offer the option to deactivate the passenger airbag when a rearward-facing child seat is installed in that position. This is crucial to prevent airbag deployment from injuring the child.
Should You Consider the Citroen eC3 After the Crash Test Results?
The Citroen eC3’s dismal performance in the Global NCAP crash tests raises a critical question for potential buyers: is it safe to consider this car? Here are some factors to weigh in your decision:
Prioritizing Safety: If safety is your top priority when choosing a car, the eC3’s zero-star adult occupant rating is a serious cause for concern. The lack of essential safety features like side airbags, ESC, and a proper seatbelt system poses a significant risk in the event of a collision.
Alternatives with Strong Safety Ratings: Several electric vehicles in the Indian market have achieved impressive safety ratings in Global NCAP tests. Consider exploring these options, such as the Tata Nexon EV or the MG ZS EV, which boasts 5-star ratings for adult occupant protection.
Potential Future Improvements: Citroen’s announcement of including six airbags as standard in future models is a positive step. However, it doesn’t address the safety concerns of existing eC3 owners.
Budget and Availability: If the eC3 falls within your budget and is readily available compared to other options, you might consider it if you’re willing to compromise on safety to some extent. However, exercise extreme caution and prioritize defensive driving practices to minimize potential risks.
FAQs
Q: How concerning is the Citroen eC3’s zero-star adult occupant protection rating?
A: It’s extremely concerning. This rating indicates a high risk of severe injuries or fatalities for occupants in the event of a serious collision.
Q: Are there any plans to improve the safety features of the Citroen eC3?
A: Citroen will equip all future models in India with six airbags as standard starting July 2024. However, there’s no information on retrofitting existing eC3 models with additional safety features.
Q: What are some alternative electric vehicles with good safety ratings in India?
A: Several EVs in India have received high safety ratings from Global NCAP. Some options include the Tata Nexon EV (5-star adult occupant protection), the MG ZS EV (5-star adult occupant protection), and the Hyundai Kona Electric (4-star adult occupant protection).
Q: Should I completely avoid the Citroen eC3 due to its poor safety rating?
A: The decision ultimately depends on your priorities. If safety is paramount, alternative EVs with better ratings are available. However, if budget and availability are major factors, you might consider the eC3 with extreme caution and a focus on defensive driving.
