irishcar.com

28 June 2002: In Euro NCAP’s most recent round of crash tests, the Opel Vectra achieved 30 points – the best result of the 'normal' large family cars tested when the 5-star winner Mercedes C-Class (33 pts) luxury car is excluded. It was also significantly safer than the X-Type Jaguar (26pts) luxury car which was also included in the segment. The other composite scores were 28 pts for the Ford Mondeo and 26 pts for the Peugeot 607.

Euro ENCAP said a change in the testing system which allowed points for 'fasten seatbelt' warnings and how they were delivered was the reason the C-Class gained an extra star over its previous rating, thus making it only the second car to achieve five stars.

All the other above cars tested in the segment were awarded four stars, showing that there has been a strong and measurable improvement in general since the predecessor models were tested a few years ago.

The Vectra proved particularly safe in the side impact including the pole test, in which it scored the maximum number of points, the only car to do so.

The Mercedes got the highest frontal impact score with 14 pts, but the head airbag curtain did not deploy fully and testers felt this could increase injury risks for some other types of accidents.

The Vectra's frontal rating was 12 pts, though testers felt chest loads on the driver were relatively high. The Mondeo achieved 10 pts frontal, but was criticised for an unstable body structure and having relatively high driver and passenger chest loads. The child protection was particularly good. The Peugeot 607 also scored 10 pts, but the driver's sill and the door pillar were found to be unstable after the frontal impact. The Jaguar X-Type also scored 10 pts frontal impact, but the driver's airbag allowed his head to hit the steering wheel late in the impact.