São Paulo — Stellantis’ Latin American operations just scored another unflattering milestone — and not the kind that earns applause. The Citroën Basalt, proudly built in Brazil, has managed to achieve zero stars in the latest Latin NCAP safety tests, effectively joining the automaker’s growing hall of infamy. Out of ten Stellantis models tested under the 2020+ protocol, not a single one has crossed the two-star mark — proving, perhaps unintentionally, that gravity isn’t the only thing pulling scores down.
Safety That Doesn’t Spark Joy
The Basalt came equipped with 4 airbags and ESC (Electronic Stability Control), but Latin NCAP’s results suggest the safety package was more decorative than functional. The car managed 39.37% in Adult Occupant Protection, 58.35% in Child Occupant Protection, 53.38% in Pedestrian Protection, and 34.88% in Safety Assist — numbers that would make even a driving school dummy flinch.
Notably, the Basalt lacks side head airbags and any ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), not even as a paid upgrade. The side pole impact test wasn’t even conducted — because there was no side head protection to test in the first place. In the frontal crash test, the car’s structure showed instability, with a peculiar asymmetrical reinforcement near the A-pillar that might have been better placed in a modern art exhibit.
Meanwhile, the front passenger pretensioner decided to take a coffee break mid-test, leading to weak chest protection. Child dummies, too, had a rough day — with the Q3 dummy’s head striking the interior during side impact. The only working Seat Belt Reminder was for the driver, but even that failed to meet NCAP’s standards.
Global Safety Divide: Same Logo, Different Lives
Latin NCAP’s Secretary General, Alejandro Furas, didn’t mince words:
“For Stellantis, Latin Americans’ lives do not matter as much as Indian lives.”
The Basalt’s Indian version, after all, gets 6 airbags as standard — double the count of the Brazilian one. Furas added that Stellantis’ ongoing approach “exposes it as a manufacturer that does not prioritize its customers’ safety,” contrasting sharply with Hyundai, which turned its Tucson from zero to five stars in just three years.
Latin NCAP Chairman Stephan Brodziak echoed the sentiment, noting the “corporate split personality” between automakers:
“Hyundai made a deliberate decision to raise safety standards. Stellantis, on the other hand, continues to make choices that directly compromise Latin American customers’ safety.”
Basalt Rock or Basalt Shock?
Latin NCAP summed it up best: this test result only came to light because the organization decided to fund the evaluation itself. Without it, consumers might never have known the “volcanic” truth — that the Basalt’s impact performance could make lava look forgiving.
For Stellantis, which sells millions of vehicles across Latin America, the takeaway couldn’t be clearer: airbags aren’t just for brochures, and safety stars aren’t optional extras.
Until then, the Citroën Basalt’s new nickname might as well be “Rock Solid… in Failure.”
