Euro NCAP Rating: 4 Reasons to Always Check it

Euro NCAP testing has saved more than 78,000 lives since its inception in 1997. Plus, its ratings have a huge impact on the sales and popularity of cars sold in the UK. But what do these ratings mean? And do they really carry weight?

Let’s explore the reasons why you should check the Euro NCAP ratings before buying a car. This blog post will also cover insights into the testing process and what different star ratings mean.

What is Euro NCAP?

Euro NCAP stands for the European New Car Assessment Programme. It’s an independent organisation that tests new cars for their safety performance. Over the years, Euro NCAP has crash-tested more than 1,800 cars and published 630+ safety ratings.

Euro NCAP conducts rigorous crash tests and assesses various safety features, assigning cars with a star rating from 0 to 5. The assessments cover four major categories, including:

• Adult occupant protection
• Child occupant protection
• Vulnerable road users
• Safety assistance technologies

4 Reasons Why Euro NCAP Safety Ratings Matter

Let’s explore the reasons why you should always check the Euro NCAP safety ratings before buying a car:

1. Avoid Unsafe Cars

By checking Euro NCAP ratings, you can identify vehicles that are potentially unsafe to drive on the road. This can help you while buying a car. For instance, the Euro NCAP program highlighted the Fiat Punto, which received a zero-star rating in 2017 and was subsequently withdrawn from the market due to safety concerns.

2. Higher Resale Value

Cars with high ratings tend to hold their value better over time. This is because buyers are more likely to buy safer vehicles, which can lead to a higher resale price.

3. Lower Insurance Premiums

Many car insurance companies offer discounts for cars with high Euro NCAP ratings. This is because safer cars are less likely to be involved in accidents, leading to lower insurance claims.

4. Latest Safety Trends

You should check the Euro NCAP ratings to stay informed about the latest safety technologies and trends in the automotive industry.

How Does Euro NCAP Safety Testing Work?

Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) conducts comprehensive crash tests to evaluate the safety performance of new car models. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas:

1. Adult Occupant Protection

• Frontal Offset Crash: The car is driven into a deformable barrier, with the vehicle’s width impacting the barrier. This simulates a head-on collision with another vehicle.
• Full-Width Rigid Barrier Crash: The car is driven into a solid wall, simulating a head-on collision with a stationary object.
• Side Impact Crash: A mobile barrier is rolled into the side of the car, replicating a collision with a tree or another vehicle.
• Side Pole Impact: The car is driven into a pole, assessing protection against side impacts in a more severe scenario.
• Far-Side Impact: The car is subjected to a side impact on one side while the other side is monitored for potential occupant injuries.
• Whiplash: The car’s seats are tested for their ability to protect against whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision.
• Rescue and Extrication: The ease of rescuing occupants from the vehicle after a crash is assessed.

2. Child Occupant Protection

• Frontal and Side Impact: Child dummies of different ages and sizes are placed in various seating positions to assess their protection during crashes.
• Child Restraint Systems: The effectiveness of child car seats and booster seats is evaluated.

3. Vulnerable Road Users

• Head Impact: The front end of a car is impacted against a pedestrian head impactor to assess the risk of severe head injury.
• Leg Impact: Similarly, to evaluate the potential for leg injuries, the car’s front bumper is tested against a pedestrian leg impactor
• Pelvis Impact: Finally, to assess the risk of pelvic damage, the car’s front side is tested against a pedestrian pelvis impactor.

4. Safety Assist

• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): The car’s ability to detect and avoid potential collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians is tested.
• Lane-Keeping Assist: It tests if the car can maintain its lane and prevent lane departures.
• Blind Spot Monitoring: The car’s ability to detect vehicles in blind spots is checked.
• Other Safety Features: Additional safety features, such as driver drowsiness detection and speed limit information, may also be tested.

What Do Euro NCAP Car Safety Ratings Mean?

The Euro NCAP ratings range from 0 to 5 stars, indicating the level of safety a vehicle provides:

• 0 Stars: Meets minimum legal requirements but lacks critical safety features.
• 1 Star: Marginal crash protection; minimal safety technology.
• 2 Stars: Below-average performance in key safety areas.
• 3 Stars: Average safety performance; adequate protection.
• 4 Stars: Good performance; meets high safety standards.
• 5 Stars: Excellent performance; well-equipped with advanced safety technologies.

5-Star Rated Vehicles by Euro NCAP in 2024

Some of the latest 5-star rated vehicles include:

• Tesla Model Y
• Volkswagen ID.7
• Smart #3
• Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
• BYD Dolphin
• Lexus RZ
• BMW 5 Series
• Kia EV9
• BYD Seal-U
• Lexus RX
• Hyundai IONIQ 6

Frequently Asked Questions

What Euro NCAP rating is my car?

You can find the Euro NCAP rating for your car by searching online or checking the car’s documentation.

What is the Fiat 500e Euro NCAP rating?

The Fiat 500e has received a 4-star Euro NCAP rating, indicating average safety performance. The breakdown of its performance is as follows:

• Adult Occupant Protection: 76%
• Child Occupant Protection: 80%
• Vulnerable Road Users Protection: 67%
• Safety Assist Features: 67%

How safe is my car?

The safety of your car is dependent on various factors, including its chassis integrity, construction materials, shape, and energy distribution profile in case of a collision. To know if your car is safe to drive on the road, you can refer to the testing data of independent organisations like Euro NCAP.

Wrapping Up: Euro NCAP Safety Rating

So, there you have it, everything you need to know about the Euro NCAP safety ratings and tests. There are some strong reasons why car manufacturers view Euro NCAP ratings as a benchmark for safety, often using high ratings in marketing to instil consumer confidence.

By checking Euro NCAP ratings before buying a car, you can make an informed choice and ensure that you are driving a safe and reliable vehicle.