NCAP joy for BMW, disappointment for Fiat | Car Talk - Car News Apr 2017

14:15 Thursday 13 Apr 2017

Euro NCAP have released the results of their latest crash tests, with good news for BMW but disappointment for Fiat.

The independent organisation conducts safety tests on all models sold in Europe, and in the latest round of tests the new BMW 5 Series achieved full five-star marks. In contrast, the updated Fiat Doblo could only manage three stars.

The seventh-generation BMW 5 Series was launched late last year, and performed strongly in the areas of crash protection and avoidance. Euro NCAP’s track test found that the autonomous braking system effectively assisted the driver in avoiding or mitigating critical rear-end crashes with other cars and pedestrians. The 5 Series’ active bonnet and Person Warning system helped the model score and impressive 81% for pedestrian safety.

However, the Fiat Doblo, which underwent a facelift in 2015, could only manage three stars. The revisions to the small MPV included only minor safety updates to a model first launched thirteen year ago.

Euro NCAP’s Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen, explained, “Fiat’s line-up now features several cars that have been on the market for a long time and their safety is well behind the class leaders. In this release, however, BMW has led the way with a new 5 Series that features lots of driver assistance systems which Euro NCAP believes will transform safety in the years to come.”