Earlier this month, the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) published its safety ratings for the new 2015 Opel Karl, which is sold in the United Kingdom as the 2015 Vauxhall Viva.
Based on GM’s G2XX platform, the city car (supermini) received four out of a possible five stars. Individual test results are as follows:
- Adult occupant: 74 percent
- Child occupant: 72 percent
- Pedestrian: 68 percent
- Safety assist: 64 percent
As much as it pains us to watch a perfectly new Karl/Viva get smashed up on purpose, check out the crash footage. And those who would like to see more about the test should download the complete 2015 Opel Karl crash test datasheet (PDF format).
The Euro NCAP performs its tests at the following velocities:
- Front offset deformable barrier test: 64 km/h (40 mph)
- Front full width rigid barrier test: 50 km/h (31 mph)
- Side mobile barrier test: 50 km/h (31 mph)
- Side pole test: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Whiplash low speed sled test: 16 and 24 km/h (10 and 15 mph)
- Pedestrian tests:
- Pedestrian head impact to bonnet test: 40 km/h (25 mph)
- Pedestrian upper leg impact to leading edge test: 40 km/h (25 mph)
- Pedestrian lower leg impact to bumper test: 40 km/h (25 mph)
The specs of the vehicle tested are as follows:
| Tested model: | Opel Karl/Vauxhall Viva 1.0L Enjoy, left-hand drive |
| Body type: | 5-door hatchback |
| Year or publication: | 2015 |
| Vehicle curb weight: | 920 kg |
| VIN from which rating applies: | all Opel Karls and Vauxhall Vivas |
| Class: | supermini (city car) |
Comments
What do you have to do better to get five stars? Which cars have five stars?
The segment is difficult to get five stars in, due to the low price. These cars are entry-level vehicles, after all.
But the safety assist (active safety) and pedestrian protection performance can be improved, albeit in an expensive manner that would make a vehicle in this segment become prohibitively expensive.