Kia And 2003 Euro NCAP Results

Popular 4x4 Sorento SUV scores 4 Stars in latest tests Kia Sedona MPV achieves maximum marks for protection of children

The latest Euro NCAP crash test results, including the Kia Sorento and Kia Sedona/Carnival, were announced at a special press conference today June 26, 2003 in London, England. The much acclaimed 4x4 Sorento SUV, introduced to European markets earlier this year, achieved an overall 4 Star rating, equaling many top cars in this prestigious sector, while the Sedona/Carnival MPV, which was launched in 1998, scored 2 Stars.

"We are pleased that our most recently created product, the Sorento, has performed well in these latest Euro NCAP tests," comments Axel Honisch, General Manager, Vehicle Evaluation, at the Hyundai-Kia Europe engineering centre.

Only two cars achieved maximum marks for safety for children travelling in child restraints in the rear of the car, one of these was the Kia Sedona.

"The Sedona’s overall rating in this particular crash test, is directly affected by a change in the Euro NCAP regulations introduced last year. The rule change means that unless a car scores 5 points for frontal impact, it cannot rate more than 2 Stars overall. The Sedona frontal impact rating by Euro NCAP is 4 points and so, if it had been tested early last year it would have been given a 3 Star rating," adds Axel Honisch.

In the USA, the Sedona, achieved a top-score 5 Star rating in the US NCAP impact tests. "We are confident that the Sedona is a safe vehicle and it complies with safety standards world-wide," states Honisch. "Further more, the Euro NCAP ratings for Sedona in both side impact resistance and for child protection (rear seat safety) are good.

"Kia takes crash worthiness very seriously and uses data from all kinds of crash research when designing its vehicles. No single crash test can assess the overall safety of a vehicle in every possible accident situation. It is important to remember that in achieving its 5 Star overall rating in the USA tests, Sedona scored 5 Stars for both frontal and side impact performance," concludes Honisch.