The Citroën C3 Aircross has failed to meet basic safety standards, earning a 0-star rating in Latin NCAP’s latest safety tests.
Alarming Safety Deficiencies
The safety evaluation revealed critical shortcomings, including an insufficient number of airbags and inadequate protection for passengers in various types of collisions. This was reported by Boosted.
A major factor in the poor rating is the car's standard equipment of just two airbags—far below the expectations for a modern car in 2024.
During frontal collision tests, the car demonstrated inadequate chest protection for passengers. Whiplash protection in rear-end collisions was also rated poorly, and the absence of curtain airbags worsened safety during side impacts.
Even more concerning, Latin NCAP could not conduct certain tests, such as side-impact evaluations, because the car lacks essential safety features to protect passengers’ heads during such collisions.
Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP, expressed disappointment in the vehicle's performance: "Stellantis disappoints us once again with a zero-star model. Citroën and Stellantis engineers know very well how to build safer cars, but the company's decisions are moving in the wrong direction."
This isn’t the first time Citroën has faced criticism.
Previously, the Citroën C3 also received a 0-star rating, drawing sharp comparisons with competitors that consistently meet higher safety standards. Latin NCAP has urged Citroën to improve its equipment and voluntarily undergo additional testing.
"It is deeply concerning that the Stellantis group continues to offer popular models with such low safety levels to consumers in Latin America and the Caribbean," Furas added, calling for immediate action.
Citroën’s Defense
In response, Citroën emphasized its commitment to safety, highlighting the robust construction of the CMP platform on which the C3 is built.
"Safety in a car is a holistic approach, carefully considered from the very beginning of development and encompassing more than just active and passive safety features," the Stellantis Group stated in a response to Motor1 Brazil.
However, Latin NCAP’s findings raise serious doubts about whether this approach is enough to ensure passenger safety.
