The Mercedes Benz Citan stands as a versatile vehicle, prioritizing safety for both driver and passengers. Evaluated through rigorous crash testing, the Citan demonstrates robust protective capabilities in various impact scenarios. This analysis delves into the key findings of these assessments, providing a detailed overview of the Citan’s safety performance.
In frontal offset collision tests, the passenger compartment of the Mercedes Benz Citan maintained its structural integrity effectively. Data from crash test dummies indicated a high level of protection for the knees and femurs of both the driver and front passenger. However, the tests also revealed a minor concern related to structures within the dashboard on the driver’s side. This design aspect could potentially pose a slightly reduced level of protection for occupants of different sizes or those seated in varied positions. Conversely, the passenger dummy consistently showed good protection across all critical body regions during the frontal offset test. Further analysis of the impact dynamics confirmed that the Mercedes Benz Citan would present as a benign partner in the event of a frontal collision with another vehicle, minimizing potential damage to the colliding vehicle as well.
The full width rigid barrier impact test assessed protection across the entire front of the vehicle. In this demanding scenario, the Mercedes Benz Citan delivered good protection for all critical body areas for the driver. Rear seat passenger protection was also deemed to be at least adequate across all critical body regions, demonstrating consistent safety performance for occupants throughout the vehicle.
Side impact safety was evaluated through both barrier and pole tests. In the side barrier impact test, the Mercedes Benz Citan achieved maximum points, indicating good protection for all critical body areas. The more challenging side pole impact test, which simulates a collision with a narrow, rigid object, also resulted in a rating of good or adequate protection for occupants. Furthermore, control of excursion, which refers to how much an occupant is thrown to the opposite side of the vehicle in a far-side impact, was found to be adequate in the Citan. The vehicle incorporates a counter-measure system specifically designed to mitigate occupant-to-occupant injuries in such side impacts, and this system performed effectively during Euro NCAP’s testing procedures.
Whiplash protection, crucial in rear-end collisions, was also thoroughly assessed. Tests conducted on the front seats and head restraints of the Mercedes Benz Citan demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries. Geometric analysis of the rear seats further corroborated these findings, also indicating good whiplash protection for rear occupants.
In terms of post-collision safety features, the Citan Tourer model is equipped with an advanced eCall system. This system automatically alerts emergency services in the event of a significant crash, facilitating rapid response and assistance. However, it is noted that the Mercedes Benz Citan does not include a system that automatically applies the brakes after an initial impact to prevent secondary collisions. Despite this, the comprehensive suite of safety features and robust crash test performance underscores the Mercedes Benz Citan’s commitment to occupant safety.
