Aygo, C1 and 107 drop to three-star NCAP rating

The facelifted Toyota Aygo and its sister cars, the Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1, have been demoted from a four-star Euro NCAP rating to three.

In the latest round of crash tests by independent test organisation, Euro NCAP, the city car trio were criticised as they had “failed to keep abreast of latest safety developments and standards.”

The Aygo, C1 and 107 scored four stars when they were first tested in 2005, but the facelifted models have been dropped to three as they don't come fitted with side impact airbags and electronic stability control as standard equipment.

Newer rivals such as the Volkswagen up! and Fiat 500 both scored five-star ratings, and the Ford Ka, Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10 all scored four stars, making PSA and Toyota’s triplets among the poorest scoring cars in their segment.

In response to Euro NCAP’s verdict, Toyota has committed to fitting a side thorax and side head curtain airbags, stability control, a passenger seatbelt reminder and ISOFIX mounts to the Aygo on cars sold in Europe by July 2013. Peugeot and Citroen have committed to do the same with the 107 and C1 respectively.

Talking about the result, Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General said: “our test protocols have evolved significantly over the past few years. There are more tests and the requirements have become more stringent.”

He added that the Aygo that was crash tested did include the revised safety spec, and said that without it, “the rating would probably have been much worse. Side impact airbags and electronic stability control are standard on many cars in this category and our tests demonstrate how important it is for manufacturers to keep their cars up to date when it comes to safety.

“As our protocols develop, cars last tested many years ago should not be assumed to compare well with more modern vehicles. Consumers should buy cars on the basis that the more recent the star rating, the safer the car.”