Crashed tested in the same month as the Volvo S90 / V90, both of which managed to obtain five stars, the Mustang managed to achieve 72% for adult occupant protection and 64% for pedestrian protection, but only 32% for child protection with the lack of safety assist systems netting it a disastrous 16%.
The tests indicated that a lack of rear seatbelt pre-tensioners caused passengers to slid underneath the belt itself, while the front airbags was judged to have provided insufficient inflation when crash tested head-on. In addition, side impact tests with a 10-year old dummy showed high risk of injury as it head came into contact with the interior trim despite the curtain airbags fitted.
"Ford did not expect Euro NCAP to test the Mustang and chose not to fit safety technology in Europe which is available to its American consumers, and available on several other sports cars for that matter. Such an attitude to safety should trouble Ford’s customers, whether they are buying a high-powered muscle car or a regular family car," Euro NCAP Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen, said in a statement.
Ford has meanwhile responded by confirming that Pre-Collision Assist and Lane Keep Assist will became standard when the recently unveiled facelifted Mustang debuts in Europe later this year.
"We welcome any improvement, of course, and look forward to publishing a new rating for the updated model. However, more fundamental updates may be needed if the Mustang is to get a significantly better result. We therefore hope Ford takes the opportunity to invest in the changes needed now for future Mustang generations," van Ratingen said.
