The European car safety program, better known as Euro NCAP, has just published the results of its latest crash tests. Some tests in which eight manufacturers and ten models have achieved five stars among the safest. In addition to the European firms that normally do not have too many problems to lead the “safest” lists, this time a Chinese brand makes its debut at the top of the classification. Chinese electric vehicle industry leader BYD gets off to a flying start in Euro NCAP and earns five stars for its ATTO 3 crossover SUV.
The truth is that after many years trying to enter the European market, Chinese car companies have dragged the stigma of lack of quality and safety. Finally, the Asian country lands on the old continent with a series of electric vehicles designed and designed for European tastes and demands. and an example is the BYD ATTO 3, which has passed both the tests and the famous impact test with a very high grade, which has earned it the prestigious five stars. Although at the moment it has not arrived in Spain, it is expected that this vehicle will be the spearhead of BYD in our country. It is a 4.46 meter long compact SUV with a 204 hp electric motor and 60.5 kWh batteries with which it achieves a range of 420 km (WLTP).
Another vehicle that achieves a result rated “excellent” is the Mercedes-Benz EQE. In his evaluation, the introduction in this model of a new security system, the Active Assistance to Distronic Emergency braking, stands out. It is a system that comes into operation when the driver does not respond to the instructions of the vehicle, placing it in the right lane or on the shoulder before stopping it completely.
Also earning top marks for safety was Mazda’s new CX-60 midsize crossover SUV, which scored well in the frontal offset test and knee and femur protectionboth for the driver and passengers.
The BMW X1 and the 2 Series Active Tourer stand out with similar notes both in the test of front offset and in knee protection.
As for Seat, the Spanish firm has updated its “brothers” Ibiza and Arona, which despite lacking elements such as central airbags, obtain a good level of protection respect to occupants of different sizes. Highlights the double braking system after an impact to avoid secondary collisions.
In Volkswagen they have also recently updated the eighth generation of the Golf, which now has a central airbag, pretensioners and new driving assistants. All this leads to being deserving of the 5 Euro NCAP stars.
The Citroën C5 X achieves four stars, penalized for lacking a knee airbag or integrated child seat in the rear seats. Finally the Mobilize Limo, a Renault group vehicle Made in China, intended for taxis and VTCs, it receives four stars due to the score obtained in terms of safety systems and protection against being run over.
Mercedes-Benz EQE
Adult protection: 95% Child protection: 91% Pedestrian protection: 83% Security assistants: 81% Characteristics: The tested model is a Mercedes-Benz model EQE 350+ with AMG Line finish. 4-door body. Year of manufacture 2002. Empty weight 2,355 kg. E segment.
ATTO WORLD 3
Adult protection: 91% Child protection: 89% Pedestrian protection: 69% Security assistants: 74%. Characteristics: The tests were carried out with a model of the BYD ATTO 3 brand. 5-door body. Year of manufacture 2022. Empty weight 1,750 kg. Small SUV segment.
Mazda CX-60
Adult protection: 88% Child protection: 91% Pedestrian protection: 89% Security assistants: 76% Characteristics: Tests carried out with a Mazda CX-60 with 2.5 PHEV Core finish. 5-door body. year of manufacture 2022. Empty weight 2,081 kg. Large SUV segment.
BMW X1
Adult protection: 86% Child protection: 89% Pedestrian protection: 76% Security assistants: 92% Characteristics: BMW X1 2.0 diesel X-Line. 5-door body. year of manufacture 2022. Empty weight 1,654 kg. Small SUV.
BMW Serie 2 Active Tourer
Adult protection: 88% Child protection: 81% Pedestrian protection: 79% Security assistants: 92% Features: BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 218i. 5-door body. Year of manufacture 2022. Empty weight 1,521 kg. Small family.
Seat Ibiza
Adult protection: 83% Child protection: 82% Pedestrian protection: 66% Security assistants: 70%. Characteristics: Tests carried out with the latest version of the SEAT Ibiza 1.0 Eco TSI with the Style series finish. 5-door body. Year of manufacture 2022. Empty weight of 1,079 kg. Small family.
Seat Arona
Adult protection: 83% Child protection: 83% Pedestrian protection: 65% Security assistants: 70%. Characteristics: The vehicle tested is a SEAT Arona 1.0 Eco TSI with the Style series finish. 5-door body. Year of manufacture 2022. Empty weight 1,140 kg. Small SUV segment.
Volkswagen Golf
Adult protection: 88% Child protection: 87% Pedestrian protection: 74% Security assistants: 82%. Characteristics: The safety tests were carried out with a VW Golf 1.5 TSI ‘Life’, TSI. 5-door body. Year of manufacture 2022. Empty weight 1,316 kg. Small family segment.
the safest
In the tests carried out in 2022, vehicles such as the Tesla Model Y, the Chinese ORA Funky Cat and WEY Coffe 01, as well as the Korean Genesis GV60, belonging to the Hyundai group, also achieved five stars. The list closes the new KIA Niro, which gets 4 stars.
According to him secretary General de Euro NCAP, Michiel van Ratigsen, although completely autonomous driving is far from being a reality, the latest tests have shown how modern driving assistance systems are laying the necessary foundations, achieving significant advances in terms of safety. In addition, Ratigsen has congratulated the Mercedes-Benz brand, which with the recently obtained rating of “very good” for EQE model has achieved its fourth five-star safety rating this year.
He has also referred to the process of electrification of the automotive industry in Europe, which from his point of view supposes “a lot of pressure on car manufacturers” to extend the useful life of their vehicles, especially those with combustion engines that will soon be replaced. for fully electric models. “Which might lead manufacturers to consider security cutbacks to stay competitive leaves examples to the contrary,” she says. Thus, the Secretary General of Euro NCAP has congratulated the Volkswagen firm, assuring that “it is excellent to see that the safety of the Golf is continuously improving, to keep up to date in terms of safety and keep up with the competition”.
The winners of 2022
The list of winners is completed with the different tests carried out since the beginning of the year. Thus, last May the updated Polestar 2 was rated “Good”, and the Volkswagen ID.5 and the Nissan Qashqai were awarded “very good” respectively. The Volkswagen Polo, Taigo and Renault Mégane also received five stars.
In July the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the new generation of the KIA Sportage and the electric Cupra Born got five stars along with the Mercedes-Benz T-Class and Citan Tourer. In September, the Tesla Model Y also managed to place itself in the “Top” of the safest cars for sale in Europe. In March, the DS4 with extra safety equipment achieved five stars.