Aaron Brzozowski
The new Ford Ka+ subcompact (or “supermini,” as the segment is known in the UK) received sharp criticism from the European New Car Assessment Program for its unimpressive safety, reports Motor1. This is especially disappointing as the Ka+ is a brand-new design just unveiled in June of last year.
The Ford Ka+ was criticized alongside the aging Fiat 500 subcompact – a car whose bones, incidentally, propped up the old, second-generation Ford Ka. But while the Fiat might be forgiven somewhat due to its old age, “high hopes for the segment are smashed by Ford releasing a brand new Ka+ with mediocre safety performance,” says Euro NCAP Secretary General Michiel van Ratingen. “The car lacks the more sophisticated restraint systems offered by most of its rivals, let alone more sophisticated technology like autonomous braking.”
In particular, the Ford Ka+’s lack of seatbelt pretensioners and load-limiters for rear occupants were cited as important omissions, says Motor1. Such features are anything but uncommon on the vast majority of new cars.
The Ford Ka+ – and the Fiat 500, for that matter – only managed three stars out of a possible five in Euro NCAP testing. That’s still better than the UK-market Ford Mustang, which earned just two stars.
So, who cares as long as it’s light.?