OSA - Japan NCAP

HINT If you wish to see the Japanese star ratings for any vehicle, just click on the colored square in the Japanese NCAP column.

WARNING: These test results do not apply when occupants do not wear seat belts, the collision speed is very high, or a passenger car collides against a large truck, and collision occurs in the lateral direction. The results of the collision test can be compared with each other only when the compared vehicles are in the same weight class.  Thus, you can estimate that an Acceptable (moderate risk) vehicle is safer than a Marginal (high risk) one when their weights are within 15% of each other.  But you should not assume that an Acceptable vehicle weighing 1000kg is safer than a Marginal one weighing 1500kg.  

As shown in the chart below, in frontal collisions, the rate of occurrence (frequency) of offset frontal collisions (IIHS) is roughly the same as that of full wrap frontal collisions (NHTSA full-width frontal impact tests).

The data was derived from a Japanese Ministry of Transport/Institute for Traffic Accident Research report detailing an investigation of 96 collisions that produced serious injuries amongst drivers and passengers who were wearing seat belts. 

In the full-width frontal collision test (adopted from the NHTSA full-width frontal impact tests), a moving vehicle with dummies in the driver's and front passenger seat rams into a concrete barrier at 55 km/h (35 mph), to evaluate the impact on the head and chest, and to check the condition of the deformed vehicle.

This test represents a head-on collision of two vehicles of similar weight, travelling at 55 km/h (35mph).  Full-width frontal impacts, providing very high deceleration to the test dummies, are particularly suited to the evaluation of seat belts and air bags.  

Full-width frontal collision test ratings key (Old rating system)

	Very low risk of serious injury to head & chest  (AAA)
	Low risk of serious injury to head & chest  (AA)
	Moderate risk of serious injury to head & chest  (A)
	High risk of serious injury to either head or chest  (B)
	High risk of serious injury to both head & chest (C-D)

Offset Frontal Impact  - Starting in 2001, OSA began testing vehicles using the Euro NCAP frontal offset impact test, as well as the full-width frontal and side impact in order to better serve the safety interests of the Japanese motorist. In the Offset Frontal Impact test a moving vehicle with dummies in the driver's and the front passenger seat hits an offset deformable barrier at 64 km/h (40 mph), in order to evaluate the impact on the head, chest, and legs - and also to assess damage to the vehicle.

This test represents a typical head-on collision of two vehicles of the same weight, travelling at 64 km/h (40 mph).   Because only part of the vehicle body sustains the impact, the impact on the dummy is less than in full-frontal collisions, but there is greater vehicle body deformation, making it suitable for the evaluation of the injury caused by intrusion to occupants.

Offset frontal impact crash-test ratings key (Old rating system)

	Very low risk of serious injury to head & chest  (AAA)
	Low risk of serious injury to head & chest  (AA)
	Moderate risk of serious injury to head & chest  (A)
	High risk of serious injury to either head or chest  (B)
	High risk of serious injury to both head & chest (C-D)

Side Impact - Late in 1999, OSA began testing vehicles using a  side impact test (adopted from the Euro-NCAP and NHTSA side impact tests).  A stationary vehicle with dummies in the driver's and front passenger seat is hit by a 950kg (2090 lb) trolley with a crushable aluminum face, going 50 km/h (31 mph), directly centered on the driver's seating postition. 

Side Impact Crash-Test Ratings Key (Old rating system):  Risk of Serious Injury to Head and Chest

	Very low risk (AAA)
	Low risk (AA)
	Moderate risk (A)
	High risk (B)
	High risk (C-D)

Please keep in mind that these test results do not apply when occupants do not wear seat belts, the collision speed is very high, or a passenger car collides against a large truck, and collision occurs in the lateral direction. The results of the collision test can be compared with each other only when the compared vehicles are in the same weight class.  Thus,  you can estimate that an Acceptable vehicle is safer than a Marginal one when their weights are within 15% of each other.  But you should not assume that an Acceptable vehicle weighing 1000kg is safer than a Marginal one weighing 1500kg.

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