The latest round of Euro NCAP tests put an icon of the off-road and two SUVs to the test, respectively, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, SEAT Tarraco and Honda CR-V.
And we are pleased to inform you that the results were all five stars — figuratively and literally — despite the stricter criteria that the Euro NCAP tests in 2019 meet.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Starting with the heavyweight group, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class , despite being the heaviest and the only one with a frame with spars and crossmembers present, its safety is not questioned, proving to be very safe.
In the four rating areas — adult protection, child protection, vulnerable road users and safety assistants — even though the indicator referring to the protection of the driver's chest and rear passenger received a poor rating, the overall scores in the four areas they are all very high.
SEAT Tarraco
THE SEAT Tarraco it is based on the well-known MQB base of the Volkswagen group, and like the other models that use it, it proves to be a safe vehicle at all levels.
What surprised Euro NCAP officials is the fact that, despite the higher level of testing, the Tarraco not only achieved five stars, it also achieved one of the highest scores in its category in adult occupant protection — around 97% — outperforming similar MQB-based models like the Skoda Kodiaq, tested in 2017.
Honda CR-V
The last time the Honda CR-V had been tested by Euro NCAP was in 2013 (previous generation) with a Diesel engine. This time, the Honda CR-V is a hybrid, which the brand anticipates as the best-selling version.
And in the four evaluation areas the Honda CR-V showed an excellent performance, despite an indicator showing a poor score, concerning the protection of the rear passengers' necks in case of a rear impact (bullwhip effect).
Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary GeneralHere we have three vehicles, competing in the same category (Large SUV), guaranteeing high safety scores. In itself it's impressive, but the fact that these three off-roaders are equipped with automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection really demonstrates the power of consumer testing, not just to encourage better performance, but also to promote new technologies to be standard across Europe.