Opel
Omega
| Front and side impact rating |
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|
|
 |
|
Pedestrian test rating |
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|
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Test Scores: Front 11(69%) Side 11(61%) Overall 22(65%) Pedestrian 16(44%)
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The
Omega is one of the older designs of car in this group
and, unlike others here, the car does not have passenger
or side-impact airbags fitted as standard – they are
options. The car merited three stars but this rose to four
when side airbags were fitted. And although the car passes
side-impact legislation taking effect from October without
them, the airbags reduced chest injury risks for the
driver. The car's front-impact performance was reasonable
although the driver's feet and ankles risked injury.
Pedestrian protection was better than for some cars here,
although parts of the bonnet provided poor cushioning. |
Impact
Protection
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
| Driver
Front Impact |
Passenger
Front Impact |
Driver
Side Impact |
|
Frontal
Impact
|
|
|
| The
bodyshell remained stable, no points were lost for
distortion of the passenger compartment and the driver's
airbag worked well. The front belts had buckle-mounted
pre-tensioners and web locks but, even so, chest loading,
especially for the passenger, lowered the test score. The
knee impact areas were free of hard contact points but the
amount of brake pedal rearward travel put the driver's
feet and ankles at risk of injury. |
Side
Impact
|
|
|
| The
standard car (without side airbags) gains a lower score
because of the loads on the driver's ribs and the
consequent risk of chest injury. A stiff webbing guide and
some trim clips on the door pillar could have injured the
driver, while the arm-rest fitted to the door also
presented a threat. |
Child
Restraint
|
|
|
| A
European manufacturer's association-approved (ACEA)
pictogram was fixed to the end of the facia so that it was
visible when the door was opened. However, there was no
supporting text to warn of the risks of serious injusry if
a child seat were to be fitted to the front passenger
seat. Both child seats were manufacturer-supplied but
neither had colour coding to show the correct route for
the adult belt, in accordance with regulation R44.03.
What's more, instruction labels were not visible for all
fixing positions, and were not colour coded. In operation
the seats controlled forward head movement but did not
contain the older child's head in a side impact. Impact
forces acting on his chest were also higher than
regulations allow. |
Pedestrian
Protection
|
|
|
| The
bumper gave more protection to pedestrians than others
tested, while the bonnet's leading edge was less
aggressive. The adult head impact area gave poor
protection and four of the six tests gave high readings,
but the zone where a child's head would impact fared
better. |
Model
history and safety equipment
|
|
|
| The
Omega was introduced in September '93. A driver airbag,
belt pre-tensioners and webbing locks, anti-lock brakes
and power assisted steering are fitted as standard on cars
sold in the EU. Optional safety equipment includes a front
passenger airbag and side airbags. |
| Make,
model and hand of drive |
Vauxhall/Opel
Omega 2.0 GL/GLS LHD |
| Body
type |
4-door
saloon |
| Model
year |
1998 |
| Kerb
weight |
1455
kg |
|
