Delight at the top safety ratings awarded to seven cars in Euro NCAP’s final 2021 series of crash tests has been tempered by the zero stars gained by the Renault Zoe.
Following the shocking results of the electric Renault supermini, together with the one-star rating awarded to the new Dacia Spring electric SUV from Renault’s budget brand, the safety body described its 2021 programme as “ending on a downer” despite the excellent performances of other models across the tests.
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Zero stars for the Renault Zoe
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Just a one-star score for the Dacia Spring
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A full five stars for the Nissan Qashqai
The seven cars awarded five-star ratings included two electric vehicles, the BMW iX SUV and Mercedes-Benz EQS. The G70 saloon and its sister GV70 SUV from new Korean upmarket brand Genesis also gained the top accolade, as did the latest versions of the Nissan Qashqai SUV, the Skoda Fabia small car and the van-based Volkswagen Caddy MPV.
Euro NCAP highlighted the fact that top awards were earned by cars right across the market, “from affordable supermini and small MPV to high-end executive electric cars.
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Five stars for the BMW iX
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Top accolade to the Mercedes-Benz EQS
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A five-star rating for the Skoda Fabia
“Despite having different powertrains and price tickets, all five-star cars performed very well overall in terms of crash protection and crash avoidance,” the report from the safety body added, also highlighting two ‘standout’ results from the safety assistance technology fitted to the new Nissan Qashqai and the adult and child occupant protection provided by the Mercedes-EQS.
Two cars tested achieved four-star ratings – the results from Fiat’s new 500e electric supermini and the MG Marvel R, an electric SUV still to be confirmed for UK sale, were described as ‘commendable’ by Euro NCAP.
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The Volkswagen Caddy was awarded five stars
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While the Fiat 500e recieved a four-star rating
Welcoming the overall results, Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen commented; “Bravo to these manufacturers for giving consumers the levels of safety they have come to expect – these results once more make clear that safety is all about good engineering and less about the type of powertrain or price per se.”
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Keyword: Five-star safety for seven new cars – but none for Renault