Major security shortcomings in some of Britain's most popular cars have been revealed by Autocar's sibling brand What Car?. Certain models are at risk of being stolen in a matter of seconds.
Three cars scored particularly poorly in What Car?’s keyless technology investigation. The worst performing was the new DS 3 Crossback, in top-spec Ultra Prestige guise, which could be entered and started in as little as 10 seconds using key code grabbing technology.
The Audi TT RS Roadster could be driven away in the same timeframe, but only if its keyless entry system was active and anti-theft motion sensor technology had not disabled the keyfob. With these preventative measures in place, the car could not be entered or driven.
The 2018 Land Rover Discovery Sport test car performed better, although could still be stolen in 30 seconds because it was not equipped with Jaguar Land Rover’s new ultra-wide-band radio technology, which prevents replication of the key’s radar signal by transmitting on a wide range of frequencies. This system is available on current models.
Best performing in the tests were BMW’s BMW X3 SUV and the Ford Fiesta. It took What Car?’s security experts 40 seconds to gain entry to each vehicle, and another 20 to drive them away.
Some brands, including BMW, Ford and Mercedes-Benz, have rolled out motion detector technology which effectively shuts down a key’s radar signal when it is not in use. This makes it more difficult for thieves to use a scanner to lock onto the signal and gain entry to the vehicle.
Of the seven models tested by What Car?’s security experts, none could be stolen when their keyfobs had been deactivated, although this functionality has not been universally adopted by manufacturers.
What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: “It is outrageous that some car makers have introduced keyless entry and start systems without making them anywhere near as secure as the traditional alternatives they’ve replaced.
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Pffffft!
No point having fancy key tech and then leaving your keys within easy access of a window or door.
Or worse lying around in full view at your place of work.
No one will ever steal that DS (Citroen)!
So it doesn't matter!
No one will ever buy one in the first place!
They start at £31,000! For a 1.2 3 cylinder! Automatic or nothing! The Autocar review gives it 3 stars and tells you that a Q2 is similar money!
You could leave the fob inside, with a sign on the window saying so, and the thieves would still be trying to grab the fob/code for your neighbour's Q2 S Line through their letterbox!
LucyP wrote:
You might want to check your figures...prices start at £21555 for a 1.2 manual. Q2 starts at £22595 for similar spec. I would much rather have the DS to the Audi
No they don't Superstevie!
Read the article again! It features the (and I quote)
"New DS 3 Crossback Ultra Prestige was easy prey for What Car?'s theft experts
Ultra Prestige starts at £31,000, as I said. Check the DS configurator!
Pretty damning. I'd like
Pretty damning. I'd like Autocar to follow-up with the brands on this data.
At this rate your phone, an almost throwaway product is more secure with fingerprint access, than a £50K car.
Car companies should be rated on security across a standardized test, just as they are with economy or perfomance.