Recently, the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) put the 2013 Ford EcoSport through its battery of safety crash tests. Based on Ford’s global B vehicle architecture shared with the Fiesta and B-MAX, the subcompact EcoSport performed well enough to earn an overall score of four stars.

Broken down, the categorical scores are as follows:

Euro NCAP had the following observations to make about the results:

Adult Occupant

The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal impact. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of the driver and front passenger. Ford showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions. The EcoSport scored maximum points for its protection of the front passenger dummy, with all body regions being well protected. In the side barrier test, protection of all regions was good and maximum points were scored. Even in the more severe side pole impact, protection of the chest was adequate and that of other body regions was good. The front seats and head restraints provided good protection against whiplash injury in the event of a rear-end collision.

Child Occupant

Based on dummy readings in the dynamic tests, the EcoSport scored maximum points for its protection of the 1 year infant. In the frontal impact, forward movement of the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward-facing restraint, was not excessive although chest loading indicated fair protection. In the side impact, both dummies were properly contained within the protective shells of their restraints, minimising the likelihoood of contact with parts of the vehicle interior. The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the system was rewarded by Euro NCAP. The dangers of using a rearward-facing restraint without first disabling the passenger airbag are clearly indicated inside the car. All of the seats for which the car is designed could be properly installed and accommodated.

Pedestrian

The EcoSport scored maximum points for the protection provided by the bumper, with good performance in all areas tested. However, the front edge of the bumper offered predominanly poor protection to the pelvis area. The protection provided by the bonnet surface was mostly good or adequate with poor results recorded along the base of the windscreen and on the stiff windscreen pillars.

Safety Assist

The EcoSport has electronic stability control as standard, and met Euro NCAP’s test requirements. A seatbelt reminder system is standard for both the front seats but is not available for the rear seats. The EcoSport is not offered with a speed limitation device.

About The Tests

As a reminder, Euro NCAP performs its tests following these parameters:

• The Front Impact test takes place at 64 Km/h, with 40 percent of the width of the car striking a deformable barrier
• The Side impact test is performed when a mobile deformable barrier impacts the driver’s door at 50 km/h
• The pole test involves propelling the car sideways at 29km/h into a rigid pole

The Motrolix Take

Four stars is good, but the maximum five stars would be much better. Notably, the 2012 Fiesta was awarded the full five stars.