The Fiat Punto Just Received A Zero Star Euro NCAP Crash Test Rating
Remarkably, Fiat still sells its ancient Punto in the UK. The car has been kicking around since 2005, which might make you wonder just how safe it is compared to more recently superminis. Wonder no more, as we have the answer: it’s way, way off.
It did just fine in its Euro NCAP crash test upon release, clocking five stars for adult occupants and three stars for child passengers, but as car safety has moved on, so have crashed tests. When put through the current, more stringent Euro NCAP test, the Punto managed…zero stars. That gives the little Fiat the dubious honour of being the first ever car to be given such a rating.
This time around it managed 51 per cent, 43 per cent and 52 per cent in the adult occupant, child occupant and pedestrian categories respectively. It was a zero per cent rating in the ‘Safety Assist’ category that sealed its fate as a zero star car - other than a seatbelt reminder, it doesn’t have much in the way of the preventative tech we’ve become accustomed to in modern cars.
Responding to the result, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles UK said:
“Safety is of the utmost importance to the FCA group. When Punto was launched 12 years ago, it was the first 5 star Euro NCAP car in its class. The importance of safety to the FCA group is demonstrated by the number of new models achieving 5 stars, for example Alfa Romeo Giulia, Alfa Romeo Stelvio and the Jeep Compass.”
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
I think those overall crash ratings don’t mean anything. In order to know if the car is REALLY safe you have to watch the videos from the crash test and look at the damage inflicted to the dummies. If they are not hurt too much it’s a safe car. Euro NCAP cares too much about safety assists.
if the warning lights dont go blink… they even got warning lights on the mirrors now, car companies have retards as a target group for sales.. you dont even have to turn your head anymore
I’ve noticed a lot of hate towards Fiat in my life… i dont get it, the punto is the cheapest option for a city car and still people expect to find safety designed to be provided by much much higher starting prices.
Its not a volvo, its not a mercedes, you cant expect airbags on the side or knee protection..
If you want that then you are looking at the wrong car.
Plus, when punto was produced side airbags wasn’t a thing.
I’ve seen a lot of Punto Gt first generation in my life, i used to own one. The only reason i got rid of it was i wanted something with less consumption and lower mileage.
I’ve never had a problem with it.
If you dont take care of your car, you cant expect it not to break down on you.. especially when its a very very cheap car.
Plus there are many high class cars from 20 years ago that wont do any better on safety tests..
Please people..
Also, Giulia vs 15 year old Punto, really? You get the first for 20k+ and the other one for 500pounds… wtf man.
I would score negative too if you had me fighting against McGreggor. Please, just please…
One thing is 15 year old Punto, another is Punto that still gets commercials
Also the “all fiats are unreliable” crap. That is simply untrue on modern fiats
Basically fiat chrysler said “we have safe cars but this isnt one of them. Spend more on one that is.”
Just like the multipla
Meanwhile I’m driving a ‘92 Ford Fiesta SX with no airbags, seat belt alarm, ABS, ESP, ASP or other safety shenanigans.
daewoo matiz with literally nothing but an airbag
I do not see where is the problem: after the hit, the cabin is perfectly sane… so what? Maybe it’s just some paid nastiness against FCA.
This maybe its a 3 star car here in latin america
This car is actually border-lining two to three stars. Zero is because it doesn’t have any safety assist systems, and NCAP uses the lowest score.
Its why the S550 Mustang was two stars instead of four.
Metaphorically speaking, this is going to be the internet in the US soon. #RIPNetNeutrality
This scoring is absolutely ridiculous. So the percentage of relevance and importance of electronics is now 100%?! So the structural integrity of the interior cabin = 0 now? The Punto was awarded a 0 because it lacks several electronic devices and yet it seem that the scoring standards focus on structural integrity and safety of the interior cabin has been completely dismissed. This is what the score is saying. “We don’t care about the strength of the chassis and structural integrity, all we care about is that you have the latest electronic gizmos and thus we are awarding this car a 0 star score!”. A 0 star score says about a car that it is completely unsafe and that death and injury are guaranteed, which of course is absurd in regards to the Grande Punto.
A more realistic and reasonable score could be 1, 2 or maybe a 3 (taking into account the increasing stringent direction of the new standards), but a complete and absolut 0 is beyond ridiculous! What about Chinese cars then? They cram worse than confetti. Should Chinese quality level cars have a scoring of -5 or -20?