--- title: "This Is What a Zero-Star New Car Crash Test Looks Like" date: "2024-11-22" modified: "2024-11-22" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-is-what-a-zero-star-new-car-crash-test-looks-like" categories: - "Car Tech" - "News" tags: - "Citroen" - "SUV" --- # This Is What a Zero-Star New Car Crash Test Looks Like ![A Citroen Aircross striking a barrier in a Latin NCAP crash test, viewed from the side.]() *\Latin NCAP\* Modern cars are so safe, and regulations have become so strict, that few get genuinely awful [crash ratings](). So, when that rare new car emerges with a zero-star safety rating, it can be pretty alarming. Unfortunately for any Brazilian customer living with a [Citroen]() Aircross, it failed to muster a single star during Latin NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) evaluation. The video is both terrifying and hilarious. In Brazil, the Citroen Aircross starts at 115,990 *real*, which roughly equates to $19,945. So it's cheap, but not remarkably so. Comparatively, the [Nissan Versa]() starts at $17,820 in the U.S., received good NCAP scores, and got five stars from our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). One of the reasons why Citroen's cheap crossover failed so miserably is its lack of airbags; it only has two. Going back to the Versa, it has 10. Having so few airbags combined with poor seatbelts creates a deadly combination. Watching the video is morbidly funny. The crashes themselves don't look too bad, as the car seems to deform fairly normally. But you really appreciate how unsafe the Aircross is when the dummies fly around the cabin like a bad QWOP video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osyGXdxZxjs In the frontal crash test, you can see the front dummies' heads hit the steering wheel and dashboard, even with the two front airbags, and then snap back and hit the B-pillar. I regrettably laughed out loud when I saw the baby dummies' feet hit the B-pillar and then stick out the rear windows. The restraints completely failed to hold the child seats in place, and of course there are no curtain airbags to keep them fully inside the vehicle. Amusing when it happens to the poor dummies, though it loses that charm when you start envisioning actual humans in the same scenario. The Aircross didn't fair much better in the side crash test, either. Not only did the front dummies' heads hit the side windows, but it looks like their bodies took the full brunt of the impacting vehicle's energy. My neck also hurts from just watching the seatbelt test. Hey—the Aircross passes the [Moose Test](), though. One point for Citroen. I've never been more grateful for [modern safety technologies]() and regulations. Like many enthusiasts, I complain about cars getting bigger and heavier all the time. Now having been reminded what can happen when those heavy-but-vital safety features aren't there, I think I'll stop my bitching. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()