Top Euro crash result for VW Tiguan, Alfa Giulia

VOLKSWAGEN’S forthcoming Tiguan mid-size SUV and Alfa Romeo’s Giulia mid-size prestige sedan – each a crucial new model for their respective brands – have both received a maximum five-star safety rating by the European NCAP crash-test authority.

A key element in their high rating was the standard inclusion of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems, which help avoid or mitigate collisions with other cars and pedestrians, and which Volkswagen Group Australia has confirmed will be standard across the new Tiguan range due in September.

While Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia is yet to announce local specification for the Giulia – due here early next year – AEB is expected to form part of the driver-assist technology fitted standard across the board.

Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said the pressure now on car-makers to include AEB – considered a minimum requirement for a five-star rating in Europe – was paying dividends in Europe, with an ever-increasing number of models picking up the new technology.

“Euro NCAP shows what can be achieved when governments, consumer groups and motoring clubs from across Europe collaborate,” Mr van Ratingen said.

“Together, we can exert an influence on the car industry that would be hard to achieve otherwise. We are glad to see some of the major manufacturers making safety equipment standard across EU28, although we know that markets outside the Eurozone are sometimes less well served.” Volkswagen Group brand Seat’s new Ateca SUV, which is built on the same platform as the Tiguan and has many of the same components, also received a five-star rating.

The Tiguan received 96 per cent for adult occupant protection, 84 per cent for child occupant protection and 72 per cent for pedestrian protection.

The latter is a typical score for a vehicle of this type and was helped by the AEB system (which can detect pedestrians) and the vehicle’s ‘active’ bonnet, which automatically increases to provide more clearance between the bonnet and engine components when sensors in the bumper detect that a pedestrian has been struck.

The testers did note, however, that “the pelvis area was not well protected, with poor results at almost all test locations” in the pedestrian category.

The Giulia scored an excellent 98 per cent for adult occupant protection, 81 per cent for child protection and 69 per cent for pedestrian protection.

On the latter, the testers said “the bonnet provided mixed levels of protection to the head of a struck pedestrian” with some areas in the centre of the bonnet offering good protection while “much of the area around the edge showed poor results”.