China’s Shocking New Vehicle Safety Test: Cliff Rollover Test for Vehicles

Some procedures must be followed before launching a new vehicle. One example is vehicle safety evaluations commonly known as a crash test. Standards vary from country to country, but passing the test can have a significant impact on sales volume depending on the grade.

China is implementing the C-NCAP (Chinese- New Car Assessment Program), like the Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) and the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport NCAP (Korean New Car Assessment Program). However, a Chinese media outlet made headlines by conducting a vehicle crash test using a method more extreme than the official test standards.

Target: European Compact SUVs

Chinese automobile media outlet Yi Lu You Che attracted attention by conducting a unique vehicle safety test. The method was to raise the vehicle on a high rocky mountain and push it to the side of the cliff, causing it to overturn. The vehicles used in this test were the Volkswagen Tiguan and Peugeot 3008, both models that received the highest rating of 5 stars from Euro NCAP.

According to the video, all test vehicles are presumed to be newly launched. When a forklift lifts a vehicle parked on the edge of a cliff, the lower part is visible with almost no contamination. The Volkswagen Tiguan, which was tested first, rolled down a cliff tens of feet high for seven and a half turns. As the number of rollovers accumulated, the vehicle body suffered considerable shock, but the condition of the vehicle confirmed afterward was surprising.

Tiguan’s Surprising Outcome

All of the vehicle’s glass was broken and part of the trunk was caved in, but surprisingly, the passenger seat maintained its shape. The A-pillar, B-pillar, and C-pillar, which play a key role in maintaining the safety zone, all appear to have not collapsed. Although it seemed difficult to open and close, it was possible to open and close the door. Whether the door can be opened or closed after an accident is an important factor as it can have a significant impact on the rescue of occupants in real situations.

So what about the Peugeot 3008? The vehicle also received significant impact and rolled down 6 laps, which is less than the Tiguan. Even if only one wheel rolls, damage is caused to the entire vehicle, but most of the interior components, including the seats, remain in place. The Peugeot 3008 that stopped rolling over was also in a miserable state with its front and rear bumpers completely falling off.

Peugeot 3008: Also Amazing

Surprisingly, the Peugeot 3008 was in better condition than the Tiguan, except for the front part and part of the tailgate. Some of the side glass remained intact. Opening and closing the door was no different from usual. Of course, it must be taken into account that the degree of damage can vary greatly depending on which part of the car body was impacted during the rollover process.