Euro NCAP: very good Renault Austral and Nissan Ariya. Moderate Alfa Romeo tone
08.06.2023
Analyzed the assisted driving systems of 3 new models; Self-driving cars are not yet present on our roads, but these devices already support the safety of drivers today.
Many consumers believe that self-driving cars and the ability to buy them are ‘just around the corner’ but, at the moment, they are not available, yet many new cars are already equipped with the technology that predates the future operation of automated cars, in option in about 90% of new models helps drivers to be safer.
As part of its evaluation programme, EuroNCAP looked at assisted driving systems over the past three years and how good they are. Today, Euro NCAP publishes evaluation results for three new models: Renault Austral and Nissan Ariya (very good) and Alfa Romeo Tonale (moderate).
Research has shown that involuntarily leaving the lane and going off the road due to distraction or drowsiness or hitting the car in front are the most common accidents while driving on the motorway.
Assisted driving systems, when used correctly, help resolve these situations, not only by keeping drivers alert, but also by being able to steer the car within its lane and ensure a safe distance is maintained from the vehicle ahead, giving the car time to brake safely.
Euro NCAP strongly encourages a collaborative or balanced approach where car and driver work together to share the driving task. The tests assess the vehicles ability to steer and brake, how cooperative the system is and how well the car can avoid a potentially dangerous situation. The information provided to the consumer, (marketing materials and manuals), and how the driver is educated on its use are also examined.
Euro NCAP’s assessment consists of two intervention areas and five levels: assistance capability (which includes driver involvement and vehicle assistance) and Safety Back-up (which measures how the vehicle responds when systems fail). .
The analyzed systems related to Renault Austral Active Driver Assist and Nissan Ariya ProPILOT Assist both achieved the “Very good” rating. Austral’s system achieved the highest score of any Renault assisted driving system tested to date by Euro NCAP.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale Active Driving Assist achieves good Safety Back-up scores, obtaining the “Moderate” rating.
“With assisted driving systems Euro NCAP strongly advocates a collaborative approach between vehicle and driver to ensure that the driver’s eyes always remain on the road and hands are on the wheel, and that there is no possibility of over-reliance on the system,” he said. Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP. We will see how the new cars meet our extended protocols, applicable to assisted driving in conditions other than motorway ones, which will be introduced next year”.