The Audi TT, Skoda Superb and Suzuki Grand Vitara are potential death threats to pedestrians despite the fact it’s cheap and easy for manufacturers to make cars more pedestrian-friendly, UK consumer organisation Which? said on Thursday.
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The cars all scored zero points in recent pedestrian safety tests by EuroNCAP1, and show no sign of thought given to preventing pedestrian injury in a lower speed collision, the organisation claimed.
Which? has also “named and shamed” other popular cars that did badly in the tests, putting pedestrians at too high a risk; these include the BMW 1-series, 5-series and X5, Jaguar X-Type, Range Rover and Vauxhall Astra.
Which? claimed that simple design improvements – costing an average of just £53 for each new car – could save 255 lives and 6,300 serious injuries in the UK each year.
One basic improvement is to provide more ‘crushable space’ between the hard parts of the car (such as the engine) and the bumpers and bonnet, which means a pedestrian would hit the hard structures with less force.
Fortunately, Which? said, car makers such as Citroen, Honda, Seat and Volkswagen are taking this issue on board. The best cars for protecting pedestrians from injury are currently the Citroen C4 and the Seat Altea, which both scored a respectable 61%.
Malcolm Coles, editor of Which? said: “If you’re unlucky enough to be hit by a car, pray it wasn’t made by Audi, BMW or Vauxhall. It’s a disgrace that makers are ignoring pedestrian safety when, for the sake of spending a bit more, they could potentially help save hundreds of lives each year.
“Safety design for car occupants has improved, but car manufacturers must now accept their responsibility to reduce the deaths of other road users. Some have shown it can be done – it’s time others followed.”
Best
Honda CR-V 53%
Honda Jazz 53%
MG TF 53%
VW Golf 53%
VW Touran 53%
Citroën C4 61%
Seat Altea 61%
Worst
Audi TT 0%
Skoda Superb 0%
Suzuki Grand Vitara 0%
Fiat Doblo 3%
Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin 3%
Vauxhall Signum 3%
BMW 1-series 6%
BMW 5-series 6%
BMW X5 6%
Jaguar X-Type 6%
Range Rover 6%
Renault Kangoo 6%
Renault Vel Satis 6%
Vauxhall Frontera 6%
Audi A6 8%
Jeep Cherokee 8%
Kia Sorento 8%
Peugeot 607 8%
Vauxhall Astra 8%
The above are European New Car Assessment Programme pedestrian safety tests’ scores. The percentage scores indicate the degree to which a car’s design will protect pedestrians from injury.
