No dummy when it comes to crash testing

The Renault Clio III

The new Renault Clio III hatchback is the eighth model from the French carmaker in three years to be awarded a maximum five-star crash test rating.

The Euro New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), which conducts the crash tests, announced the Clio findings in Stockholm, Sweden, last night.

The third-generation model scored 32.67 points out of a possible 37 and joins its Modus sibling and rival Peugeot 1007 as the only three vehicles in the programme's "supermini" category to have scored the maximum five stars for occupant protection.

This segment includes four-star finishers like the Citroen C3, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Getz, Mazda2, Mini Cooper, Skoda Fabia, Suzuki Swift, Nissan Micra, Toyota Prius, and Volkswagen Polo.

The five-star Renaults are the Espace IV, Vel Satis, Laguna II, Scenic II, Megane II, Megane CC, Modus and Clio III.

The crash-test procedure comprises a front-impact at 64km/h into an offset barrier, a side-impact at 50km/h, a side-impact pole at 29km/h and tests with dummy pedestrians at 40km/h.

"By carrying out frontal impact tests at 64km/h, we are simulating a car-to-car impact where both cars are travelling at about 55km/h, a speed shown by accident studies to address a high proportion of fatal and severe injury accidents," the report says.

Euro NCAP inspectors praised the Clio's occupant protection: "The car's structure performed perfectly, dissipating energy and preventing any intrusion into the cabin." "Post-test analysis of the dummies demonstrated the effectiveness of its restraint system, particularly the two-stage adaptive front airbags and anti-submarining system."

It also applauded new technology in the front seats and headrests against the effects of whiplash in a rear impact.

"When the [headrest] height is adjusted, it is the headrest itself which slides rather than the rods, which are no longer rigid," it said.

"When an impact occurs, the occupant's back can be pushed further back into the seat until his or her head comes into contact with the headrest."

The Clio comes with six to eight airbags, depending on the model: two in the front, four side airbags, and two anti-submarining airbags on the three-door version.

It also won four stars out of a maximum five in the child protection tests. This rating depends on the fitting instructions for the child seats, the car's ability to accommodate them safely and their performance in front and side impact tests.

The Euro NCAP consortium includes the governments of Catalonia, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom, motoring organisations and European consumer groups.Alastair Sloane

* The Clio III is expected to go on sale here next year, if Renault NZ gets a satisfactory agreement out of the French factory on pricing. "We are still in negotiations," said Renault NZ general manager Mark Jury.