ASEAN NCAP, the independent New Car Assessment Programme for the ASEAN region has a new and more comprehensive test regime this year (2017). It has introduced a new rating system to assess vehicle safety levels which includes the same Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP) and this time even more emphasis on Safety Assist Technologies (SATs). The first vehicle to actually undergo testing of this new system is the all-new Honda CR-V. It received the full 5 star rating for the variant tested.
Honda has taken a proactive step and had offered one of its new CR-V to be tested. It now has the honour of being the first manufacturer in the ASEAN region to undergo an ASEAN NCAP test using the new rating assessment system. The selected vehicle, the Honda CR-V - a 2.4liter 7 seater fully specced variant, performed well and achieved the maximum 5-Star rating with the overall score of 88.80 points. The breakdown of the score across each domain, was 47.25 points for AOP, 22.84 points for COP and 18.71 points for SAT.
The new system, is a single rating system, which consists of three assessments, Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) (50%), Child Occupant Protection (COP) (25%), and Safety Assist Technologies (SATs) (25%), combined to an overall rating. The previous rating system, used from 2012 to 2016 was based on a dual rating comprising AOP and COP which produced two final scores. One of the drawbacks was that manufacturers tended to promote higher ratings compared to lower ones. The new combined score avoids this. Now the additional active safety systems also carry a lot of weight.
The new Honda CR-V was first launched in Thailand within the ASEAN region. The model which was tested (and sold over there) is equipped with a 2.4liter normally aspirated engine, dual frontal airbags, three-point seatbelts, Seatbelt Reminders (SBR) for both driver and front passenger, all as standard fitments. Other fitments such as side airbags, curtain airbags, blind spot technology, and driver attention monitor are also available to most of the ASEAN market. The seven-seater SUV is also fitted with standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). For the child restraint method, ISOFIX and top tether are standard across variants.
This generation of the CR-V marked a vast leap in terms of active safety equipment. No longer a simple vehicle. It is packed with modern technology. Honda has introduced its Honda Sensing Technology in the 2017 model. The Honda Sensing comprising Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS).
Honda Malaysia had stated that the test would actually reflect on the CR-V itself and also on customer confidence in the product and the brand overall.
Honda Malaysia had stated that the test would actually reflect on the CR-V itself and also on customer confidence in the product and the brand overall.
ASEAN NCAP Chairman, Prof. Dr. Wong Shaw Voon (pictured above, second from right) said:
“We are pleased that ASEAN NCAP’s first result release under the new rating for Honda CR-V obtained a 5-Star result in the overall score. This shows that manufacturers are dedicated to produce safer cars for the ASEAN region in line with our new safety protocol. Furthermore, the Honda CR-V’s result will be a catalyst for other vehicles to produce safer cars for this region. Although Honda Sensing is currently only available in the top range variant, we look forward to have it standard across all variants in the coming future.”
ASEAN NCAP Secretary-General, Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim (above, right) said:
“Honda CR-V’s overall safety level is consistent with those produced for other regions. This is apparent when we make a comparison with other NCAP’s results, i.e. Euro NCAP and Australasian NCAP. With the new CR-V’s 5-Star rating, Honda is truly committed to its global safety concept of ‘Safety for Everyone’.”
The gist of ASEAN NCAP Q3 2017 results are as follows.
The current tested Honda CR-V, a right-hand-drive model, obtained an overall score of 88.8 points, which falls under the range of 5-Star rating. Based on the score, the SUV scored 47.25 points for AOP category, 22.84 points for COP, and it obtained 18.71 points for SAT domain.
ASEAN NCAP previously tested the same model in 2014 under the 2012-2016 protocol. The tested model is a left-hand-drive variant in which it scored 15.46 points for the AOP category. From the score, the CR-V received 5-Star for variant with both ESC and dual frontal SBR while 4-Star rating for variant that has no ESC. For the COP category, the SUV received 4-Star rating with 86% compliance.
(Full test results are published down below)
What we here at Motoring Malaysia think about the Honda CR-V, its 5 star rating and the new ASEAN NCAP Assessment is as follows:
The test is for the 2.4liter 7 seater variant which we do not get (at this moment). We have the 2.0liter and the 1.5liter turbo. Both models are lighter than the heavier engined 2.4, ASEAN NCAP states that the heavier model usually gets scrutinised more closely as the extra weight most likely comes from the heavier engine. Lighter engined vehicles are usually better in terms of crash protection as the engine is smaller and lighter.
Another fact that was brought up was that the 7 seater have the additional row of seats and that the middle row seats of this 7 seater CR-V can slide forward and back for easy ingress and exit of the rear most passengers. The ones we have here have the middle row seats only which are fixed (more rigid) which I think are better anchored to the chassis.
The technologies stated above are only available on the higher variant model of the CR-V sold here so do note that the 88.8% score you see here is for this high specced model and it would most likely be without Lane Watch (blind spot viewer) and all of the Honda Sensing equipment too. A lesser 5 star rating as in terms of Safety Assist Tech (SATs) the four item criteria for SATs are for Effective Brake & Avoidance, seatbelt reminders, blind spot assist and advance safety assist technologies. It is on the final part which Honda Sensing tech falls into place and it only counts as 2 points in the total figure. So a CR-V without Honda Sensing is still a 5 star car with only at the very least 2 points down.
As for ASEAN NCAP, the new assessment tests are indeed more relevant and puts a little more emphasis on active safety systems rather than just the usual chassis safety systems. We now have brake assist systems, blind spot assist systems, lane departure alert and other active safety systems that make up more of the points in the assessment.
The emphasis on blind spot warning sensors is actually thought out by ASEAN NCAP because the ASEAN region has a lot of motorcyclists which weave in and out of traffic. ASEAN NCAP believes that there is a need to reduce accident fatalities of motorcyclists. This roaduser category has recorded the most number of road fatalities in Malaysia, with up to 63% of the people getting killed being motorcyclists. Even pedestrians only amount to 10%.
We raised the point of why ASEAN NCAP focused on this instead of other countries like the United States which focuses on roll over protection as a major criteria. This isn't done here yet and the answer was that ASEAN NCAP focuses on what is relevant in our region first before taking other steps. This is why blind spot assist systems was chosen as a criteria in the assessment exercise rather than something like roll over protection. It is what needs to be addressed first especially for this new assessment programme which will be totally implemented by 2020.
Quite fascinating indeed. In fact, testing has also improved on Child Occupant Protection too with the use of even better equipped crash test dummies. ASEAN NCAP has procured two crash test dummies that simulate children aged 1 and a half years old and three years old. These are truly expensive dummies which have state of the art sensors built into them. The cost for both of these dummies cost somewhere in the region of RM600,000. These will be put to use in the upcoming new car crash tests.
And we've actually heard that the all-new Perodua Myvi will be up for testing soon! It's about time actually!!!
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