Tesla is Euro NCAP’s safest brand in 2022
Strong performances from Chinese brands, and a wrap-up crowning Tesla as the overall winner, have come forward from Euro NCAP’s final round of 2022. It confirms that electric cars obtain higher scores than combustion-engined models more easily.
They’re not yet available for European fleets, but the Chinese MPV Maxus Mifa9 and its compatriot cross-over Chery OMODA5 both achieved a five-star rating in Euro NCAP’s fourteenth crash round. Another impressive newcomer is the Air from American EV maker Lucid, which opened a store in Germany and Switzerland this year. Its maximum of five stars is upheld by very good occupant protection (90%) and its comprehensive suite of ADAS safety systems (84%).
Euro NCAP tested several new brands this year and spotted a trend where the imported Chinese fleet wants to leverage its foothold in Europe with high safety ratings. All their models being electric helps them in attaining that goal.
Safest fleet cars
As Euro NCAP is prepping a new set of rules, with a stronger accent on autonomous driving aids, their real-world efficacy, gender and age-related safety, and evaluation of risk fire with EVs, it will be interesting to see if the Chinese newcomers can confirm in the medium run. The safety watchdog will start phasing in some of those changes as of next year.
The consistency gap between ICE and EV models was also illustrated in round 14. With no electric car grabbing next to the maximum score - also the VW ID. BUZZ and MG4 participated - some combustion-engined models missed it. The older Volkswagen Touran and Ford Puma landed four stars, like the all-new Peugeot 408, which received mediocre ratings (64%) for its ADAS systems. The organization publishes a ranking of the safest fleet cars.
Euro NCAP’s final round concludes the overall winners for 2022. From the weighted sum of the scores, Tesla takes the top spots, accompanied by a strong presence for Lexus:
- Tesla Model Y
- Tesla Model S
- Lexus NX
- Mercedes EQE
- Lexus RX
Image Source: Euro NCAP
