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Dual front & side curtain airbags
Occupant protection score: 29.14 out of 37
Important note: The diesel left-hand-drive European model was tested by Euro NCAP. Australasian specifications may vary and therefore models sold in Australasia might provide different levels of protection to those described on this page.
The tested model of Dodge Caliber was introduced in Australia during 2007.
Dual front airbags and head-protecting side curtain airbags are standard equipment. Antilock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) are also standard. Electronic stability control (ESC) is standard on the diesel and R/T variants and optional on the others.
The front seat belt buckles are mounted on the seats and the upper anchorages are adjustable. These features improve the fit of the seat belt. Pretensioners are fitted to the front seat belts to reduce slack in the event of a crash. A three point seat belt is fitted to the centre rear seat. This provides better protection than a two point (lap) seat belt.
Body region scores out of 4 points each: Head/neck 3 pts, chest 3.25 pts, upper legs 2 pts, lower legs 2.89 pts.
The passenger compartment held its shape well in the offset crash test. The brake pedal moved rearwards by 67 mm and upwards 18 mm. The steering wheel hub moved 41mm forward, 9mm upward and 4mm sideways. The front ("A") pillar moved 6 mm rearwards. All doors remained closed during the crash and could be opened with normal effort after the crash.
The driver and passenger airbags did not prevent contact with the steering wheel and dash respectively. Steering column and dash components were a potential source of injury for the driver's knees. Dash components were a hazard for the passenger's knees.
Body region scores out of 4 points each: Head 4 pts, chest 4 pts, abdomen 4 pts, pelvis 4 pts.
The vehicle was eligible for an optional pole impact test, since it had head-protecting side airbags and scored four points for the head in the side impact test. The manufacturer decided to go ahead with the pole test and the vehicle earned a further two points.
| Body region | Offset crash test at 64 km/h (v4.1) |
Side impact crash test at 50 km/h (v4.1) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Passenger | Driver | ||
| Head HIC | 372 | 328 | 33 | |
| Acceleration (g for 3ms) | 46.1 | 41.4 | 18.4 | |
| Neck - Shear (kN) | 0.33 | 0.32 | - | |
| - Tension (kN) | 1.52 | 0.84 | - | |
| - Extension (Nm) | 14.7 | 13.4 | - | |
| Chest Accln (g for 3ms) | - | - | - | |
| Compression (mm) | 27.23 | 25.70 | 12.51 | |
| Viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.08 | |
| Abdomen - Force (kN) | - | - | 0.800 | |
| Pelvis - Force (kN) | - | - | 1.170 | |
| Upper legs - Force (kN) | Left | 0.81 | 2.14 | |
| Right | 1.15 | 0.96 | ||
| Knee displ (mm) | Left | 0.00 | 0.30 | |
| Right | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Lower legs - Force (kN) | Left | 2.57 | 1.70 | |
| Right | 2.11 | 2.01 | ||
| Index (Upper/Low) | Left | 0.52/0.49 | 0.11/0.33 | |
| Right | 0.43/0.65 | 0.23/0.2 | ||
Pole test: 2 pts
Seat belt reminders: None eligible (see table below for details)
| Head | Airbag bottomed out | 1 pt deduction, Drv & Pass |
| Chest | No deduction | |
| Upper leg | Variable & conc. loading for driver and passenger | 2 pt deduction Left & Right |
| Lower leg | No deduction | |
| Foot score | Score 4 points |
| Chest | No deduction |
These specifications are subject to change. Please check with manufacturer for the latest specifications.
| Driver airbag | S |
| Passenger front airbag | S |
| Side airbags, front seats - chest protection | X |
| Side airbags. front seats - head protection | S |
| Side airbags. rear seats - head protection | S |
| Driver knee airbag | X |
| Front seat belt pretensioners | S |
| Antilock (ABS) brakes / Electronic brake distribution | S/S |
| Electronic stability control (ESC, VSC, DSC, ESP, VSA) | O |
| 3 point centre rear seat belt | S |
| Active head restraints - front seats | X |
| Intelligent seat belt reminder - driver | X |
| Intelligent seat belt reminder - front passenger | X |
| Rear seat belt status indicator | X |
Key:
S = standard on all variants
O = optional on base variant. May be standard on higher variants
V = not available on base variant but standard or optional on higher variants
X = not available on any variant
| Child head impacts | 4.14 |
| Adult head impacts | 0.56 |
| Upper leg impacts | Zero |
| Lower leg impacts | Zero |
| Total (out of 36) | 4.70 |
Page created: 3 December 2007