Volkswagen And Seat Achieve Five Star Ratings In New Latin NCAP Assessment Protocols

Latin NCAP’s first round of results for 2017 were released today with five star results for the Volkswagen Golf VII and the Seat Ateca, in both Adult and Child Occupant protection.

The vehicles were the first to achieve five stars under the stricter protocols introduced in 2016. Both cars went one step further, gaining Latin NCAP Advanced Awards, which recognise five star models that include crash avoidance and pedestrian protection technologies, the first time these awards have been given out.

A Mexican version of the Volkswagen Golf VII, had previously been assessed under the old protocols in 2014, where it also achieved five stars in Adult and Child protection. In this test a Brazilian version was used, and despite more testing requirements, with a pole impact test and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) check, the vehicle still achieved the top score. The VW Golf was awarded with a Latin NCAP Advanced Award for the AEB system which is optional in the Golf range.

The Seat Ateca, which was recently launched in Europe and in Mexico, not only achieved the top five star rating for Adult and Child Occupants protection, but also received two Latin NCAP Advanced Awards, one for Pedestrian Protection and another for the optional availability of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). As standard for Latin America, all Atecas offer 7 airbags, ESC and pedestrian protection.

Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP said:
“It is a great achievement for Volkswagen Group, who make both the VW and Seat, to be the first to reach the top safety score under our new protocols. Now that they have shown it is possible, we encourage and challenge other manufacturers in the region to improve their cars and offer five-star protection.

“We are particularly pleased that both manufacturers have gone beyond five stars with two advanced awards. These awards were designed for top scoring manufacturers to push for even more safety, and Volkswagen and Seat have certainly achieved that.”

María Fernanda Rodríguez, Latin NCAP President said:
“This is the first time since the latest protocol established in 2016 that we have good results in our region. Perhaps for the NCAPS from other regions, for example those where UN regulations are mandatory, this is quite normal, but for us it is something extraordinary. As someone who has dedicated almost all my life to promoting programs and actions that improve the quality of life of children in Latin America, today I feel happy.

I am anxiously awaiting the governments to understand that it is totally feasible to require manufacturers of all brands to meet UN safety standards. Only by this we will be able to reduce the scandalous numbers of the dead and injured in our countries”.

Volkswagen Golf VII
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Watch the ESC test video
Download crash test image

Seat Ateca
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Watch the ESC test video
Download crash test image

Read more information on the Latin NCAP Advanced Awards: http://www.latinncap.com/en/our-tests/latin-ncap-advanced-awards

The second round of Latin NCAP results will be released in May.

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 seventy cars in seven test phases.

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 2011-2020 and the Stop the Crash Partnership.

More info: www.latinncap.com