Euro NCAP: Dodge Caliber Receives 4-Stars In Adult Protection

A couple of years ago, four out of five stars for adult occupant protection would be something worth celebrating for, but today, when most new cars in the C-segment (Auris, Golf, Qashqai, Bravo, Focus etc) manage a maximum five star rating, 4-stars and 29 points isn't something worth bragging about. Not that the car us unsafe, but you get the general idea. In the other Euro NCAP tests, the Caliber was awarded with four (out of five) stars for child occupant protection and one (out of four) star for pedestrian protection. -Continued after the jump

Posted by Chris

Front impact

There was insufficient pressure in both driver and passenger airbags to prevent the dummies from making contact with the steering wheel and dashboard respectively. Structures in the dashboard presented a potential hazard to the knees and femurs of both front seat occupants.

Side impact

The Caliber scored maximum points in the side impact and pole tests.

Child-protection

Dodge dealers can disable the front passenger airbag to allow a rearward facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. The dangers of doing so without first disabling the airbag were not clearly indicated in the warning labels. The presence of ISOFIX anchorages in the rear outboard seats was not clearly marked.

Pedestrian protection

Neither the bumper nor the front edge of the bonnet scored any points for the protection they offered to pedestrians' legs. Most of the bonnet scored no points and was rated as poor for the protection offered to the heads of adult and child pedestrians.