SEAT Leon, first car with 5-star safety rating

The new SEAT Leon has achieved the highest possible score of 5 stars after the demanding crash tests carried out by the Latin NCAP organisation. Furthermore, the Leon is the first car to receive the best rating of 5 stars in the adult occupant category and a further 4 stars for child protection in the Latin NCAP front and side impact tests. The frontal impact test is carried out at a speed of 64 km/h against an offset immovable block fitted with a deformable aluminium honeycomb face. This impact is intended to represent the most frequent type of road crash, which is likewise the most dangerous for occupants. The test was also used to evaluate child protection, and the result for the Spanish brand’s model was equally impressive. The Leon also delivered excellent performance in the side impact test against a movable block fitted with a deformable barrier. The chassis structure remained completely stable and all the safety systems engaged without a hitch. At the same time, the seat belt reminder system was also evaluated. With the excellent score received after the Latin NCAP tests, the new SEAT Leon responds diligently to the expectations of the technology used in the development of the brand’s new model. The Spanish compact features an outstanding array of standard safety features that include seven airbags (2 front, 2 side, 2 head + kneebag), ESC, ABS + ASR, front passenger airbag disconnection, Isofix anchoring points and Top Tether above the two rear seats, driver and front passenger seat belt reminder and multi-collision brake, which brings the car to a complete stop to help prevent secondary collisions in the case of an accident. The Latin New Car Assessment Programme (Latin NCAP) crash tests and evaluates vehicle models of different manufacturers in order to provide consumers across the Latin American and Caribbean regions with accurate, independent and impartial information. It is important to mention that Latin NCAP is a part of the Global NCAP programme, which includes all the organisations that assess the safety of new vehicles. For SEAT, increasing road safety is a goal that the company strives for daily, by implementing the latest breakthroughs in their cars and pursuing actions that contribute to reducing road accidents. Source: seat-mediacenter