The structural integrity of the passenger compartment in the Citan Benz remained steadfast during the frontal offset collision test. Data collected from crash test dummies indicated robust protection for the knees and femurs of both the driver and the front passenger. However, a minor penalty was noted concerning structures within the dashboard on the driver’s side. These structures could potentially pose a slightly increased risk to occupants of varying sizes or those seated in different positions. Conversely, the passenger dummy experienced good protection across all critical areas of the body.
Analysis of the impact trolley’s deceleration and the deformable barrier post-test revealed that the Citan Benz is designed to be a benign partner in frontal collisions, minimizing risks to other vehicles. In a full-width rigid barrier impact scenario, the Citan Benz provided good protection for all critical body regions for the driver and at least adequate protection for a rear seat passenger.
During the side barrier impact assessment, the Citan Benz achieved maximum points, demonstrating good protection for all critical body areas. In the more demanding side pole impact test, protection levels were rated as good to adequate. Control of occupant excursion – the extent to which an occupant is thrown to the opposite side of the vehicle upon impact from the far side – was deemed adequate. The Citan Benz incorporates a counter-measure to reduce injuries resulting from occupant-to-occupant collisions in such side impacts, and this system performed effectively in Euro NCAP’s evaluation.
Evaluations of the front seats and head restraints in simulated rear-end collisions indicated good protection against whiplash injuries. Furthermore, a geometric analysis of the rear seats also suggested a good level of whiplash protection for rear occupants of the Citan Benz.
The Citan Tourer variant of the Citan Benz is equipped with an advanced eCall system. This system automatically alerts emergency services in the event of a collision, enhancing post-accident response and safety. It is important to note that the Citan Benz is not equipped with a system that automatically applies the brakes after an initial impact to prevent secondary collisions.
