Today, it is common for new cars in the European market to receive full or almost full stars in Euro NCAP crash tests. So one is surprised when Renault Zoe and Dacia Spring get none, respectively. single star.
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This is the result of a fresh set of tests in which Euro NCAP sent a total of twelve cars against a “wall” – in fact against various obstacles. Seven of them received the full number of stars, including the new Škoda Fabia or Volkswagen Caddy, and three others received four stars.
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| Results of the latest set of Euro NCAP tests | ||||
| Model |
Stars |
Adult protection |
Rear child protection |
Security electronics |
| BMW iX |
***** | 91 % | 87 % | 81 % |
| Dacia Spring |
* | 49 % | 56 % | 32 % |
| Fiat 500e |
**** | 76 % | 80 % | 67 % |
| Genesis G70 |
***** | 89 % | 87 % | 88 % |
| Genesis GV70 |
***** | 89 % | 87 % | 87 % |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS |
***** | 96 % | 91 % | 80 % |
| MG Marvel R |
**** | 80 % | 75 % | 80 % |
| Nissan Qashqai |
***** | 91 % | 91 % | 95 % |
| Nissan Townstar / Renault Kangoo | **** | 78 % | 87 % | 72 % |
| Renault Zoe |
43 % | 52 % | 14 % | |
| Škoda Fabia |
***** | 85 % | 81 % | 71 % |
| Volkswagen Caddy |
***** | 84 % | 82 % | 79 % |
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How is it possible, though? Renault Zoe, which received five stars in the previous version, suddenly has zero after the upgrade? There are several reasons. First, the letters NCAP stand for New Car Assessment Program, and zoe is not a brand new car.
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Its current design is only a facelift, the model has been sold since 2013 and since then the requirements of the evaluation have shifted, especially the electronic ones. “Every few years, Euro NCAP requirements increase to make carmakers try harder. If everyone has five stars, we must increase the demands, “explains Matthew Avery, a member of the board of Euro NCAP.
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Zoe, for example, does not have automatic emergency braking as standard (but this is supposed to be added to the basic equipment as of March 2022) or lane keepers, which, of course, reduces his rating. However, the protection of passengers in the event of an impact is weak – for example, the side airbag, unlike the version before modernization, does not protect the driver’s head and torso, but only his torso. The organization also highlights the risk to the driver’s chest and children’s necks in the rear seats in a head-on collision.
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In response, Renault has stated that zoe “is a safe vehicle that meets all safety standards” and that it has the equipment to improve active safety since the start of sales, albeit at an additional cost. “Zoe came on the market in 2013 and received five stars in the rating at the time. Since then, the rules have changed five times. With the same equipment, the car can lose up to two stars with each change, “the carmaker continues.
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A lousy result Date Spring, the cheapest electric car on the Czech market, is given mainly by performance in crash tests; Although the side airbag provides protection for the driver’s head, tests show that there is a high risk of life-threatening injuries to the driver’s chest and rear passengers’ head, as well as weak chest protection in the event of a side impact. After all, although it is a new car for Europe, it has actually been sold under the names Kwid and City K-ZE in Asia since 2016.
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The lack of safety electronics as standard is also a problem. As the carmaker points out in the statement, the car complies with European homologation regulations, which do not prescribe this electronics, at least for the time being.
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On the contrary, a novelty on the market, Škoda Fabia fourth generation, received a five-star rating.
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Fabia provides good or sufficient protection for important body parts of the driver and rear passengers in frontal and side collisions, the only minor drawback is the absence of a central airbag, so protection against the passenger on the other side of the car in a side collision is not so good.
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In addition to these three relatively cheap cars, the carmaker also rated several models of premium brands, for which, other than a five-star rating, it would be even more considered.
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The best percentage score was achieved for adult protection Mercedes-Benz EQS with 96%, for child protection in the rear seats the same EQS and Nissan Qashqai with 91% and for driving assistants the best qashqai with 95%. In addition to them, over 90% also got the BMW iX in at least one category, with 91% in adult protection.
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Poll
Do you decide when choosing a car according to the results of crash tests?
Mostly not, but I will take extreme evaluations into account on either side
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A total of 58 readers voted.
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