Image: Euro NCAP
Road Safety News guest reporter Finn King explores the latest Euro NCAP ratings, published earlier this month.
This year has seen lots of new and exciting developments within car brands, as they release new models to the market.
The safety features of these models have been thoroughly tested by Euro NCAP, an independent organisation that supplies safety ratings of new vehicles.
Euro NCAP uses a five-star rating system to help consumers in making decisions on what vehicles to choose, after learning about the crash protection and safety technology they provide.
Some of the tests Euro NCAP does are:
- The adult occupant test – this tests the safety of the vehicle for front passengers.
- The child occupant test – this tests the safety of the vehicle for children in the rear seats.
- The vulnerable road users test (VRU) – this tests how safe the vehicle is if it collides with a vulnerable road user.
- The safety assist test – this monitors how well a vehicle’s safety features respond to an incident.
Earlier this month, Euro NCAP published a list of cars that have been tested this year, to add to those tested in previous years.
Interestingly, this year all the ratings of the cars have been four stars or above, suggesting that cars are getting increasingly safer.
Out of the 28 cars that have been tested, 18 (around 64%) were awarded a five-star rating.
An example of a vehicle that have had a five-star rating this year is the Cupra Terramar, which was recognised for its safety features – receiving a score of 87% on the adult occupant test.
Another example of a five-star car is the Polestar 4. This car managed to score a staggering 92% on the adult occupant’s test, making it one of the safest vehicles on the market for adult drivers.
It is also worth noting this year has seen a massive increase in the number of electric cars that have been tested, with nearly all of the 28 cars tested falling into this category.
Reacting to the ratings, Dr Aled Williams, Programme Manager Euro NCAP, said: “Since Euro NCAP began its work in 1997, car manufacturers have dramatically improved the safety of their products.
“But after the Covid-19 pandemic, and then the switch to electric cars, the economic conditions faced by the automotive industry have been challenging and remain tough.
“Yet, the reduction of accidents and injuries on Europe’s roads remains a pressing issue for the industry, and safety still has a significant influence on consumers when choosing their next car. We know that it is a challenge to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating for a new car, but it remains a challenge worth meeting as the benefits go so much further than protecting those inside the vehicle.
“Safer cars also help protect other road users and can reduce the burden on nations’ emergency responders and health services.”
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