Euro NCAP has just published its first results of 2022 with the safety ratings of seven vehicles, including the Volkswagen Polo and the new Taigo crossover, both of which earned five stars.
The Megane E-Tech, the first Renault model based on its new dedicated electric vehicle platform, also achieved the top safety rating, as did the new Lexus NX.
The BMW 2 Series coupé was awarded four stars. Also, Euro NCAP published the ratings for the Volkswagen ID.5, sharing the 2021 five-star rating awarded to the nearly identical ID.4, and the Ford Tourneo Connect, close relative of the five-star Volkswagen Caddy.
Ford and VW announced an industrial alliance in 2019 for the joint engineering and production of commercial vehicles. The Tourneo Connect is a sister-model of the new VW Caddy van. It is built alongside the Caddy at VW's factory in Poland. This July will see the introduction of new vehicle safety legislation, mandating the fitment of important safety systems such as autonomous braking and speed assistance on new vehicle types.
Euro NCAP anticipates that it will be a busy year for its tests too, which is now in its 25th year, with many cars lined up for testing and with plans for a new roadmap to set the course for safety for the next decade.
In the meantime, car manufacturers continue to recognise the value which consumers and fleet operators place on a good Euro NCAP rating.
Volkswagen gave the popular Polo a solid facelift, which, in addition to extra style, especially added more technology. Thanks to the addition of new centre airbags and more capable crash avoidance systems, this model cleared the hurdle for a 2022 five-star rating.
The Lexus NX, available as normal and plug-in hybrid, shares the same platform as the RAV4 from its parent company Toyota. While the car performed well in tests and scored enough points to qualify for five stars, Euro NCAP claims Lexus engineers did not provide all technical information they normally share, “leaving a careless impression that is atypical for a Toyota brand”.
Leading Renault’s electric car offensive, the Megane E-Tech is a new, all-electric compact hatchback launched to regain lost ground in Europe’s popular family car segment. With improved body and restraint systems, and strong performance from advanced driver assistance systems such as AEB, Euro NCAP says the five-star Megane E-Tech “demonstrates that Renault understands how to engineer cars that are not only attractive but are clean and safe at the same time”.
Tests on the BMW 2 Series coupé showed the car is offering good crash protection and satisfactory protection to vulnerable road users. The autonomous emergency braking system performed “adequately” in more straightforward testing scenarios, involving other cars and pedestrians, but was “limited” in the more challenging scenarios such as cyclist crossing and turning across path. The car achieved a creditable four stars as a result.
