Airbag-less Mitsubishi L200 scores 0-stars in Latin NCAP

While most of the regions and NCAP agencies have made it mandatory for the automakers to offer their vehicles with at least one or two SRS airbags, some regions and NCAP agencies like Latin NCAP are still allowing airbag-less vehicles to be sold. Not only do the SRS airbags prevent the driver and the occupants from receiving injuries but also help in defying death at times.

Anyway, Mitsubishi, one of the more successful and renowned automakers in the world, is still offering its L200 without SRS airbags in the Latin region.

When tested by the Latin NCAP, the Mitsubishi L200 received a not-so-surprising 0-star safety rating for adult occupant safety and two stars for child safety.

During the test, the driver's head hit the steering wheel, and the passenger could've collided with the dashboard. This could result in severe injuries in real-life scenarios. Calling the test results "appaling", "Child Occupant Protection does not appear to be a priority for this manufacturer,” and it is “unacceptable for Mitsubishi and some Mitsubishi importers in Latin America to be offering the L200 with zero-star safety levels", said Alejandro Furas, the Secretary-General of Latin NCAP.

Nevertheless, Mitsubishi is expected to upgrade the safety equipment on the pickup truck and equip the L200 with front SRS airbags for driver & passenger and passenger seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters. The Mitsubishi L200 with the aforementioned safety features will be up for grabs in the region by April 2020. The pickup truck will, however, miss out on advanced safety features like electronic stability control, side-head protection, pedestrian protection, and others.

Reports suggest that even after receiving the SRS airbags, the Mitsubishi L200 won't be able to secure a two-star according to Latin NCAP’s 2020 protocols. Another similar case was recently encountered in South Africa, where there Global NCAP and Automobile Association South Africa tested out the Nissan NP300 Hardbody. While the Nissan NP300 Hardbody had SRS airbags, the pickup truck still received a zero-star crash test rating due to a poor safety structure. Hence, it's not just the SRS airbags, which provide the occupants with enough safety and there are many other factors equally responsible in the deed.

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