PUNTO GETS ZERO-STAR SAFETY RATING

Fiat’s ageing Punto has been given a zero-star rating by crash testing authority Euro NCAP – the first in the group’s 20-year history.

The re-released version of the car was criticised for failing to keep pace with modern safety developments.

Despite the car earning five stars for adult occupant protection when tested in 2005 testers this time criticised it for crash performance and its lack of any safety assistance technology.

Matthew Avery, director of research of Thatcham Research which carries out testing fore ur on cap said :“in 2005 the Fiat Punto achieved a good rating. However, Euro NCAP frequently raises the bar in its testing regime and the Punto’s adult occupant protection score of 51 per cent is more than 30 percent below the average for superminis tested in 2017.

“This is essentially an old car, but that should have sharpened the focus on fitting safety technologies to counteract its dated crash performance .”

The latest round of testing fro me ur on cap also revealed six other vehicles that failed to meet the highest five-star standards because of a lack of safety technology. the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Dacia Duster, DS 3, Ford C-MAX, MG GS and Vauxhall Viva were given only three stars because of the lack of assistance technology such as autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning.

Matthew Avery explained: “Some great st rides have been made in car safety this year. But December’s results have shown that some carmakers are choosing not to fit potentially life-saving safety technology as standard, despite a trend to the contrary in 2017.

“Some are choosing to prioritise the fitment of technologies to support drivers and bring down accident rates. Others are not.”