small car are more economical and more environmentally friendly than large cars, but there is still room for improvement with them, as an environmental test has now shown.
In the current environmental test Green NCAP put three small cars under the microscope and awarded a maximum of 10 points each in the three categories of pollutant emissions, energy efficiency and greenhouse emissions. The Mazda2 achieved 3,5 out of a maximum of 5 stars, the Ford Puma achieved 3 stars and the DS 3 Crossback 2,5 stars.
Could be better
The Mazda2 was tested with the 55 kW / 75 PS strong 1,5-liter Skyactiv-G petrol engine and scored 18,4 points. Of this, 5,9 points were attributable to the emission of pollutants, 6,9 points to the assessment of consumption and 5,6 points to greenhouse emissions. The testers missed a gasoline particulate filter, this would help to further reduce pollutant emissions.
The Ford Puma, which competed with the 1,0-liter gasoline engine with mild hybrid support (92 kW / 125PS), scored a total of 16,3 points. The pollutant emissions check received 4,8 points, and the small SUV scored 6,4 points for energy efficiency. There were 5,1 points for greenhouse emissions. The testers complain about the ammonia emission of the small crossover.
What and how Green NCAP tests
Of the 13,1 points for the DS 3 Crossback (1,5-liter diesel with 96 kW / 130 PS), 4 points are attributable to pollutant emissions, 5,8 points to energy efficiency and 3,3 points to emissions of greenhouse gases. The small SUV also has problems controlling ammonia emissions, and the testers also criticize nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
Green NCAP checks vehicles with the help of its own consumption and emissions tests in the laboratory and on the road and aims to evaluate the environmental behavior of new cars in detail.