RACV slams forward visibility, blind spots of new cars Article at ...

The RACV has urged car procedure to appraisal the way contain plan vehicles ,next a damning learn eager on forward visibility and blindspots.

No new vehicles at present sold in Australia conventional the maximum five-star rating beneath the RACV Car Blindspot Ratings system, as,at the same time as additional supposed 20 proportion scored now one star.

The account establish the Volkswagen Golf and the Citroen C4 Picasso had the fewest forward blind spots of any new vehicles on sale in Australia. Both now courtyard four stars out of five.

The RACV tested 183 new passenger cars, SUVs and glow commercial vehicles. In total, 25 earned inquisitiveness stars, 116 scored two stars and 40 now courtyard now one star.

The examination involved rotating a laser 180 degrees to replicate the drivers forward vision. Points now transport for how considerably the A-pillars disrupted the lasers path.

The variety of forward visibility has decreased in new existence as procedure look for to create completely cars additional structurally sound and improved ready by means of security features.

RACV boss vehicle engineering, Michael Case, supposed procedure and as extended as had a blame to equilibrium the adding of new security skin and vehicle building by means of visibility.

œManufacturers have to create sure present is a high-quality equilibrium recognized by collide security and visibility, Mr Case said. œIn a number of vehicles tested, a pedestrian or cyclist as shut as demonstrate metres absent and a vehicle 20 metres absent power be seen by the intended since the plan of the vehicle shaped a surface blind spot.

œRACV urges procedure to appraisal completely cars ratings in petroleum learn and make designs so as to combine vehicle safety, ergonomics and visibility.

Mr Case supposed drivers had to be conscious of completely cars blind spots and be hypothetical to be ready to go,shift completely skull to seem approximately not any at what time necessary.

œIts chiefly significant at what time drivers go,shift toward intersections, particularly roundabout, to stay view of additional vehicles as you provide way, he said.

The ,next is a catalog of the better-performing vehicles in the test. The filled catalog can be viewed at the RACVs website.

Small cars

Three stars:

• Fiat 500

Small-Medium cars

Four stars:

• Volkswagen Golf (hatch and wagon)

Three stars:

• BMW 1 Series (hatch)
• Honda Insight
• MINI Cooper (all models)
• Peugeot 308 (hatch and wagon)
• Toyota Corolla (sedan and hatch)
• Volvo C30

Medium cars

Three stars:

• Citroen C5 (sedan and wagon)
• Mazda6 (all models)

People movers

Four stars:

• Citroen C4 Picasso

SUVs

Three stars:

• BMW X5
• Chery J11
• Mazda CX-9
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Subaru Forester
• Toyota Kluger

Sports cars

Three stars:

• Audi A3 Cabriolet
• Audi TT
• BMW 1 Series (coupe and convertible)
• BMW Z4
• Mazda RX-8
• Nissan 370Z

Luxury Cars

Three stars:

• BMW 3 Series (sedan and wagon)

Commercial vehicles

Three stars:

• Suzuki APV

For the record, petroleum is how the Australian-made cars now ranked:

Two stars:

• Ford Falcon/FPV (sedan)
• Ford Falcon Ute
• Holden Cruze
• Toyota Aurion
• Toyota Camry

One star:

• Holden Commodore/HSV (sedan and wagon)
• Holden Caprice
• Holden Ute

What do you believe of the rankings? Did the RACV get it right, or do you disagree by means of the results? Let us be acquainted with by means of thoughts in the comments part below.