The new generation Suzuki Swift is one of the top ten safest cars introduced world wide during the last year.
Just launched in New Zealand, the new Swift five-door hatchback exceeded the 80 per cent mark in overall scoring in Euro NCAP testing to be one of the best performing cars in the world during 2010.
To be a top achiever like the Swift means that the car accomplished a high combined score based on the scores in each of the individual four areas of Euro NCAP’s assessment.
At the same time, the Swift notably exceeded the thresholds for a coveted 5 Star Euro NCAP safety rating.
“We are delighted new Swift has emerged so well from these international crash tests because it confirms just how safe smaller cars have become,” said Tom Peck, general manager of marketing for Suzuki New Zealand.
“If the new model follows in the wheeltracks of its predecessor by becoming the best selling small car in our market, it also means many New Zealanders will be driving a vehicle with superbly high safety standards,” he said.
Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP general secretary, also confirmed the increasing safety integrity of smaller cars. Every year, he said, car manufacturers were constantly working to innovate and make their cars better and safer for the driver, whatever the size of the vehicle.
There was, he said, a car manufacturers’ commitment to safety for all sizes of vehicles as they strived to achieve a high performing 5 Star level.
Euro NCAP crash tested 29 vehicles in 2010, with 65 per cent of them reaching the 5 star rating. This compared to 90 per cent in 2009, and while the success rate was lower last year, this reflected Euro NCAP’s more tougher criteria to reach 5 Star status.
The new Swift achieved 94 per cent in adult occupant testing, 82 per cent in child occupant tests, 62 per cent in pedestrian tests and 71 per cent in safety assistance.
Adult occupant crash testing monitored frontal impact, side impact, side impact with a pole, and rear impact or whiplash.
The car’s passenger compartment remained stable during the frontal impact and the dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both driver and passenger.
“Suzuki demonstrated that occupants of different sizes and those sat in different seating positions would have a similar level of protection against upper leg injuries,” said the Belgian-based Euro NCAP agency.
In safety assist assessment, it was noted the new Swift has electronic stability control as standard on all variants, as is a seatbelt reminder for the driver and passenger seats.
All new 2011 model Swifts sold in New Zealand now have a driver knee airbag, along with airbags for both front seat occupants, side body and side head.
