New Suzuki Swift Only Has A Three Star Crash Rating, Unless You Option Safety Gear
We’ve gotten to the point now where we just sort of assume a new car will get five stars in an NCAP crash test. Car safety has come a long way in recent years, to the point where a brand new supermini from a major manufacturer clocking only three stars stands out.
Three stars is the thoroughly meh score netted by the new Suzuki Swift in its recent Euro NCAP test. But, there’s a caveat: if you pay for the ‘safety pack’ with its autonomous emergency braking system, you’re looking a four star car.
A welcome improvement, but still down on many of its competitors. The Nissan Micra was also included in Euro NCAP’s latest bout of crash tests, and managed a five star rating. Again though, for the top rating, you need to have ticked the right option boxes to have an autonomous braking system - without it, it’s only a four star car.
What are your thoughts on these systems? Would you pay to option when buying a new car? Let us know in the comments.
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
NCAP tests are biased towards equipment levels. This is a cheap car, make no mistake. It crashes well for it’s price. NCAP will not consider it a 4 star car as it lacks equipment - again, it’s a cheap car.
So if its only a three star why not make it in to a track star?
But still it rides and handles 5 star.
It was the same story with the Ford Mustang in EU. 2 stars overall, despite the actual occupant protection receiving the same score as the Audi TT, which was a four start car.
This is why you should always scrutinise the reports - 99% of the time the star rating is misleading.