Crash Tested: Euro NCAP vs. 2011 Chevy Orlando

Last year, the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) performed its collection of crash tests on the Chevrolet Orlando. The unit, specifically, was a 1.8L Ecotec gasoline-powered left hand-drive unit — and it scored an overall five stars, with the individual scores being:

• 95 percent for an adult occupant
• 79 percent for a child occupant
• 49 percent a pedestrian
• 71 percent for safety assist

The organization praised the compact Delta-based MPV for good adult and child occupant protection, but criticized it for pedestrian protection scores by saying that the front edge of the hood — where a pedestrian’s pelvis would come into contact with the car — was poor. NCAP found that the areas likely to be struck by the head of a child mostly good with some poor-performing areas. Those areas that are likely to be struck by an adult’s head, however, mostly offer only poor protection.

Here’s the video of the Orlando getting crash tested:

As a reminder, NCAP conducts the frontal impact test at 64 Km/h (40 MPH) with 40 percent of the width of the car striking a deformable barrier. In the side impact, a mobile deformable barrier impacts the driver’s door at 50 km/h (31 MPH), while the pole test involves the car being propelled sideways at 29km/h (18 MPH) into a rigid pole.

The GM Authority Take

What a generation of vehicles, and a newer, more rigid, and smaller platform can do for safety! Compare the results of the Orlando to the 2007 Captiva crossover — both of which could serve the same overall people-carrying purpose — and see the difference for yourself!

Now, how about offering the Orlando in the States?