Renault Captur safety downgraded

The baby SUV is set to be docked a star by NCAP in Australia because it is not fitted with rear airbags, even though it has just received the top five-star ranking from European NCAP without them.

It will also take the hit because it must pass a roof-crush test, although that is in the plan for ANCAP testing in 2014.

The head of ANCAP, Nicholas Clarke, says he is stunned that Renault is not demanding cars for Australia with rear airbags because the Captur follows the Clio which is also airbag-free in the rear.

"It beggars belief that they could not get it up. If they are going to sell the car here then that is what we require," he tells Carsguide.

"It strikes me as a bit odd that this has blown up. I understand that Renault is not happy about it."

But he is adamant.

"The Captur result will be capped at four stars. It's required to have rear curtain airbags, or rear head protection technology. The other thing for the Captur is that from 2014 we require a roof crush result. That's mandatory for five stars from January."

He admits the Captur could clear the roof hurdle, and ANCAP is intending to check that locally by buying a car to test, but says all carmakers including Renault have had plenty of warning about the rear-airbag requirement for a local five-star ranking.

"In our forward plan, which we developed from about 2009 and then published at the beginning of 2011, it was made clear at that time that from 2014 we would require head protecting technology in the rear and the roof."

"This was negotiated with industry through the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, which Renault is a member of. It shouldn't be news to anybody."

Clarke also says Renault has a long history with five-star cars and rear airbags, and questions the decision not to fit them in the Clio and Captur.

"There are lots of small cars with full-length rear airbags. So it's not impossible to fit them. I think, also, that Renault have had curtain airbags in the rear for a number of years."

Despite the push-back from NCAP in Australia, the result for European NCAP is the fifteenth five star result for Renault and backs the recent result for the Clio on which the Captur is based.