06.12.2023
Five stars for VW, Mercedes, BMW, BYD, Xpeng and Smart
Eleven cars tested by Euro NCAP in the last test of 2023: Volkswagen ID.7, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-EQE, BYD TANG, Kia EV9, XPENG G9, VinFast VF8, Smart #3, BYD SEAL-U, Honda ZR -V and Hyundai KONA.
Manufacturers, more or less known, are responding well to the requirements of Euro NCAP, which came into force at the beginning of this year, with eight of the eleven vehicles receiving the highest rating: five stars.
The Volkswagen ID.7 mid-size electric four-door estate achieves a high score of 95% in adult protection, achieving one of the best overall results of the year. This car provides not only protection for its occupants, but also for others. Five stars.
The BMW 5 Series is just behind the Volkswagen in terms of safety performance, not as good in pelvis and femur protection in the frontal crash test. It was also rated five stars.
The Mercedes-EQE electric SUV achieves a very good overall performance, particularly in safety assistance technologies. The lack of robustness of the car’s central airbag system is disappointing. It gets five stars.
The first Chinese car on the December test list is BYD TANG, one of the world’s largest battery manufacturers and, for many years, China’s electric car maker. Demonstrate security requirements with a good overall score and a five-star rating.
Euro NCAP also tested BYD’s small SUV, SEAL-U which performed well with a five star rating.
The Kia EV9, a contender for the 2024 Car of the Year title, is Kia’s first three-row electric vehicle. The vehicle comes equipped with a range of child safety features and has good dynamic performance. It reaches the maximum rating of five stars.
The XPENG G9 received a double rating as it underwent safety testing and Green NCAP simultaneously. The results were good overall, with the exception of the dummy slipping under the seat belt with a risk of abdominal injuries. The G9 achieves five stars from Euro NCAP and has also received a five star rating from Green NCAP.
The Smart #3, made in China by Geely, is larger than vehicles previously made by Smart, has no child detection and manages to achieve a five-star rating.
Vietnamese electric vehicle startup VinFast recently launched its first model in Europe, the VF8 SUV. The car achieved a four-star rating, disappointing due to the lack of robustness of the restraint system, good protection of children and vulnerable users.
Honda’s small SUV, the ZR-V is the only car that offers a pure hybrid powertrain and the lightest vehicle among the cars evaluated. Its performance in both crash tests and active safety tests was rated four stars.
Four stars also for the Hyundai KONA, some critical issues in driving assistance and accident prevention.
“Euro NCAP has often been accused of promoting the increase in weight of cars – said Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP. In fact, it was thought that additional safety features meant extra mass. The increase in vehicle weight we see today is certainly not related to safety, but depends on consumer preferences: larger vehicles and electrification. This is a trend that helps neither safety nor the environment: large, heavy cars are less energy efficient than small, light ones, and there is a safety issue when these two types of vehicles collide or, worse, when vulnerable users are involved.”