Driving home the importance of safety, the Euro NCAP crash test results for 2014 reveal the cars that offer the greatest level of protection.

Since 1997, Euro NCAP has been organising crash tests and offering motorists an independent assessment of the safety performance of the best-selling cars in Europe. Euro NCAP is made up of seven European governments and motoring and consumer organisations in every European country, including International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT) to which the Consumers’ Association of Ireland is affiliated. The aim is two-fold – as well as making independent information about a car’s comparative safety available to consumers, Euro NCAP results incentivise manufacturers to improve the safety of their cars. Evidence shows that advances in vehicle safety have led to the greatest reduction in road accident casualties. Legislation sets minimum safety standards that all cars must meet in order to be put on sale in Europe but Euro NCAP seeks to encourage manufacturers to exceed these safety standards and its tests are far more rigorous, highlighting the differences between cars’ safety performance. To achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating, a car must far exceed the minimum safety standards required by law. Safety is a key element in the decision to purchase a car, and consumers who want the highest level of safety should look for vehicles that have garnered five stars in Euro NCAP’s rating scheme. Tests carried out in 2014 have yielded a large number of five-star ratings and 14 Choice Buys.

Euro NCAP Advanced

In addition to Euro NCAP’s star rating system, Euro NCAP Advanced was introduced in 2010 to reward and recognise car manufacturers that provide new technologies that demonstrate a scientifically proven safety benefit for consumers and society. New and advanced technologies – such as autonomous emergency braking, speed alert systems and automatic emergency call – are significantly expanding the automotive safety landscape and by rewarding such technologies, Euro NCAP encourages and motivates manufacturers to accelerate the standard fitment of important safety equipment across their model ranges. Euro NCAP rewards also offer consumers clear guidance about the safety benefits offered by these new advancements. For each technology nominated by a car manufacturer, Euro NCAP assigns a panel of objective experts who analyse the way in which the technology has been developed, tested and validated and determine the system’s performance and expected effectiveness. Where the analysis reveals very positive results, Euro NCAP rewards the technology and highlights the findings on its website, www.euroncap.com. In 2014, two technologies received the Euro NCAP Advanced rewards:

Opel Side Blind Spot Alert

The Opel Side Blind Spot Alert (SBSA) system is designed to help a driver to avoid dangerous situations or collisions with other road users when changing lanes. Ultrasonic sensors are used to scan the area to the side and diagonally to the rear of the car, and the system alerts the driver if there is another vehicle in the driver’s “blind spot”. An indicator light in the door mirror lets the driver know if a vehicle might be in the blind spot on that side and if the driver uses a direction indicator when another vehicle is within the danger zone, the warning indicator will begin to flash. The system monitors both sides of the vehicle, so that it can assist drivers when they are planning to overtake as well as when they are being overtaken, to ensure that the car can be safely returned to its lane. The system works at speeds up to 140km/h and can operate in almost all weather conditions, detecting all kinds of vehicles, including motorbikes.

According to Opel, close to 10% of all accidents are between vehicles driving in the same direction, and the Opel SBSA system has the potential to help avoid approximately 10% of such collisions. Given the nature of these accidents, the system delivers a greater safety benefit at high speeds and helps particularly to reduce severe and fatal accidents. The system has been extensively tested and a survey has demonstrated a high level of satisfaction among users, which is a key factor in ensuring its continued use. Euro NCAP has rewarded the Opel SBSA for its availability on the Opel Corsa – which achieved a five-star rating in the 2014 tests – as well as on the Opel Zafira, Astra, ADAM and Insignia. The system is offered either as an option or standard, depending on grade and market, and the availability of optional equipment may vary between countries, so interested consumers should check with their dealer if the system is available to them.

BMW Pedestrian Warning with City Braking Activation

BMW’s Pedestrian Warning with City Braking Activation system seeks to help avoid or mitigate pedestrian accidents at lower speeds. The system is designed to warn the driver and prompt him or her to take action if there is an imminent risk of colliding with a pedestrian. Using a camera in the base of the rear-view mirror, the system emits a warning from speeds of 10 km/h up to 60 km/h when a collision with a pedestrian is imminent and simultaneously preconditions the brakes for a quicker response in case the driver applies them. As a last resort, the car will autonomously apply the brakes shortly before the collision in the event that the driver does not respond to the warning.

According to the manufacturer, 20-30% of all serious accidents in cities involve vulnerable road users and approximately 10% of these accidents could potentially be avoided through the autonomous brake function alone. The expected benefit of the system is increased when the driver responds to the warning in due time. BMW has conducted extensive tests on the system, including simulations using different driver/pedestrian models, and Euro NCAP has carried out its own independent assessments that verify the manufacturer’s claims. Euro NCAP has rewarded BMW’s pedestrian warning system for its availability on the BMWi3 and on the BMW 2-Series, which garnered a five-star rating in the 2014 tests. The system is also offered as an option on the Mini One, but optional safety equipment may not be available in all countries and consumers are advised to check with their dealer.

Best-in-class cars of 2014

The best performers in their size categories in Euro NCAP’s 2014 tests were as follows:

  • Supermini: Skoda Fabia
  • Small Family Car: Nissan Qashqai
  • Large Family Car: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  • Small Off-road 4×4: Land Rover Discovery Sport
  • Small MPV (multipurpose vehicle): VW Golf Sportsvan

These cars all received five-star ratings and the highest overall scores in their respective categories last year. In 2014, Euro NCAP assessments featured new requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and also placed increased emphasis on “Safety Assist” – technologies that aid safe driving and help drivers to avoid a crash. The results reveal an emerging divide between small, price-competitive cars and larger vehicles. In the Large Family Car category, all vehicles tested garnered a five-star rating whereas the only car in the Supermini category to achieve five stars was the Skoda Fabia. This indicates that manufacturers continue to struggle to provide driver assist technology in market segments where every cent counts.

2014 testing changes

In the 2014 tests, crash avoidance systems are incorporated into the star rating. Assessments of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems are included, with low-speed whiplash protection systems included under Adult Occupant Protection scores and high-speed systems included under the Safety Assist score, which also incorporates lane support systems. Euro NCAP no longer tests electronic stability control (ESC) – which improves a vehicle’s dynamic stability by detecting loss and supporting the regain of control of the vehicle – but points are awarded for compliance with EU legislation. From 2014, pedestrian testing involves more detailed analysis of the bumper and front edge of the bonnet and greater weighting is given to Safety Assist in the calculation of the overall score, whereas the weighting afforded to Adult Occupant Protection is reduced. The star ratings from the 2014 tests contain more technical content than those from previous years so direct comparisons are not possible.

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New Euro NCAP Results tested