ÖAMTC crash test with praise and criticism

ÖAMTC crash test with praise and criticism

In the current crash test by the ÖAMTC and its partners, three vehicles were closely examined: the hybrid models DS 4 and Honda HR-V as well as the Dacia Jogger, which, however, corresponds to the Dacia Sandero Stepway, which was already tested in 2021. The results are different: While the Jogger only manages one star, the DS 4 and Honda HR-V are very safe vehicles with four stars. The DS 4 can even be upgraded in terms of safety - for an additional charge - so that it achieves five out of five stars.

The criteria tested were occupant protection for adults and children, protection of vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) and the equipment with driving assistance systems. Max Lang, vehicle safety expert at ÖAMTC, explains the strengths and weaknesses of the individual test candidates: 

The identical Dacia Sandero only achieved two out of five stars in 2021, the jogger only managed one star. "Unfortunately, the problems we identified in 2021 are still there - for example, there is a greatly increased risk of injury for children in a frontal collision and for adults in a side crash. The assistance systems lack lane keeping assistant and emergency braking assistant for pedestrians and cyclists," explains the ÖAMTC expert. "In the jogger, a third row of seats is optionally available - but there is no seatbelt reminder." Another problem: joggers are at risk of serious neck injuries in the event of a collision from behind.

The French family car impresses when it comes to child and adult safety, but the protection of vulnerable road users falls a little short. With the DS 4, however, you can clearly see the difference between the standard equipment (4 stars) and the optional safety package (5 stars): Anyone who invests in the latter will get one that is also equipped with radar instead of a camera-based emergency brake assistant. It works so well that it raises the car to 5 stars in the overall rating. "In principle, it is pleasing how well the technology is suitable for preventing accidents. However, one has to criticize the fact that such a powerful assistant is not part of the standard equipment and has to be purchased separately," the ÖAMTC expert clarifies.

The hybrid SUV has hardly any weaknesses when it comes to adult safety and its equipment with well-functioning driving assistance systems leaves little to be desired. “But child safety could be better: serious head injuries cannot be ruled out in the event of a side impact,” says Lang. When it comes to protecting pedestrians and cyclists, the usual picture emerges: A-pillars and the front edge of the hood can lead to serious injuries in a collision.