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Citroen Basalt Scores 0 Star Rating Under Latin NCAP, Indian Version Scores 4 Stars: Here's Why
The Brazil-manufactured Citroen Basalt has received a 0-star safety rating in the latest Latin NCAP crash tests, a stark contrast to the 4-star Bharat NCAP rating achieved by the India-made version in October 2024. Both models are built on the CMP platform, but differences in safety equipment appear to have played a significant role in the diverging results.
Safety Equipment: Brazil Vs India
The Basalt tested by Latin NCAP was equipped with four airbags, along with safety features such as electronic stability control (ESC), pedestrian protection, seat belt reminders, ISOFIX, and belt pretensioners with load limiters.
In contrast, the Indian-spec Basalt offers six airbags as standard, giving it an inherent advantage in occupant protection. The additional airbags in the Indian model likely contributed to its superior Bharat NCAP score.
Adult Occupant Safety
In the adult occupant protection category, the Basalt scored 15.75 points, translating to 39%. Protection for the head and neck of both the driver and passenger was rated good, but the driver's chest showed marginal protection, while the passenger's chest received a weak rating-mainly due to an underperforming pretensioner.
Protection for the knees of both occupants was marginal, with a risk of impact from dangerous structures behind the fascia. On a positive note, the tibia protection for both driver and passenger was found to be adequate, and the footwell area was stable. However, the bodyshell was rated unstable and deemed incapable of withstanding further loadings.
In the side impact test, the Basalt performed better, offering good protection to the head, abdomen, chest, and pelvis. The whiplash test showed marginal protection for the neck, while the side pole impact test was not conducted since side head protection airbags are not offered as standard.
Child Occupant Safety
In child occupant protection, the Basalt scored 28.59 points, equivalent to 58%. The car provided good protection for both the 3-year-old and 1.5-year-old dummies, with the child restraint system (CRS) successfully preventing head exposure during frontal impact tests.
However, during side impact tests, the 3-year-old dummy's head came into contact with the vehicle's interior, while the younger dummy remained well-protected. Some child restraint systems also failed installation tests, and the car lacks a passenger airbag disconnection switch. Latin NCAP further noted that the airbag warning for rear-facing child seats did not meet its required standards.
Pedestrian Protection & Safety Assist Systems
In the pedestrian and vulnerable road user protection category, the Citroen Basalt achieved 25.62 points (53%). The SUV complied with UN127 pedestrian protection regulations, with most head impact areas offering good, adequate, or marginal protection. Poor results were recorded near the A-pillars and windscreen edges, while the centre of the hood performed well. Protection for both upper and lower legs was rated good.
The Basalt lacks advanced features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) for vulnerable road users, which further limited its score in this category.
When it came to safety assist systems, the Basalt scored 15 points (35%). The seat belt reminder (SBR) was available only for the driver and failed to meet Latin NCAP standards. Additionally, a speed limitation system was missing, along with modern driver assistance features like blind spot detection, lane support systems, road edge detection, and AEB Interurban.
DriveSpark Thinks
Despite sharing the same CMP platform as its Indian counterpart, the Brazil-manufactured Citroen Basalt lagged behind in terms of safety performance. The lack of side head protection airbags, fewer standard airbags, and underperforming safety assist systems resulted in a disappointing 0-star rating in Latin NCAP tests.
Meanwhile, the India-made Basalt, equipped with six airbags and improved safety calibration, continues to hold a 4-star Bharat NCAP rating, highlighting how regional equipment levels can significantly influence crash test outcomes.
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