GM’s Chevrolet Aveo Flunks Latin American Crash Test

The Latin American version of General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Aveo subcompact sedan has flunked a 40 mph frontal crash test by the Latin New Car Assessment Program safety advocacy group.

The base model Aveo, which is not equipped with airbags or advanced seatbelt systems, earned zero out of five stars in the Latin NCAP test for adult occupant protection. The group describes the car’s structure as “unstable” and says the driver position shows a high risk of life-threatening injuries.

Latin NCAP notes the Aveo is a best-seller in Mexico, a country that does not require minimum safety standards recommended by the United Nations. The group evaluates only base models sold in Latin America.

NCAP points out that Latin America-spec cars from Honda (City small sedan, Fit supermini and HR-V small crossover) and Volkswagen (India-made Vento midsize sedan) won five-star adult protection ratings in its tests. The Ford Ka supermini earned a four-star rating. All five models are equipped with multiple airbags and seatbelt pretensioning systems.

Latin NCAP Secretary General Alejandro Furas condemns Chevrolet’s best-selling models in Latin America for consistently poor performance in five years to testing. He blasts Chevy as the region’s “worst-performing major global manufacturer” and urges General Motors Co. to take immediate action to bring Latin American safety equipment into line with U.S. standards.