Euro NCAP, the independent organization responsible for assessing the safety of new models on the European market, has just revealed its latest results. The targeted models are the Volvo XC60, “our” Volkswagen T-Roc, Skoda Karoq, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Citroën C3 Aircross, Opel Crossland X, Volkswagen Polo and the SEAT Arona.
A group that could no longer reflect the current automotive reality: all of them SUV or Crossover, except for the Polo, the only “conventional” car present. Interestingly, Euro NCAP classified the Arona as SUV, equated with the Polo, and the “cousins” C3 Aircross and Crossland X as compact MPV — the marketing teams of SEAT, Citroën and Opel have to work harder…
five stars for everyone
Digressions aside, this round of testing couldn't have gone better for all models. All of them achieved five stars in the increasingly demanding tests.THE Volvo XC60 , living up to the symbol it bears, it became the vehicle with the best Euro NCAP rating in 2017, reaching, for example, 98% in the protection of occupants in the event of a collision.
But the XC60 operates in the D segment. The B and C segments are the ones that guarantee the highest sales volumes in Europe. Therefore, it is important that high levels of security are transversal to the market, regardless of the model's positioning or cost.
Euro NCAP increasingly values the presence of active safety equipment, such as autonomous emergency braking — an equipment whose effectiveness we have already seen at first hand — and it is positive to mention that even cars like the Polo already include this equipment is standard, and is available as an option on the C3 Aircross and Crossland X.
More demanding tests
Euro NCAP is set to raise the bar for its tests in 2018. Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP, promises:
Of course, it's great to see brands like Volvo producing cars that get near-perfect ratings in some areas of our tests, and it demonstrates why Euro NCAP must continue to adapt to its requirements. In the coming year, we will see new tests and even stricter requirements to get the five stars. But it is the vehicles that sell in large numbers that will really influence road safety in the future, and manufacturers such as Nissan, Ford, SEAT and Volkwagen are to be congratulated for democratizing safety by providing driver assistants in their SUVs.