As consumer demand for electric vehicles grows, a new affordable contender in the European market has delivered a poor performance in recent safety evaluations. The Dongfeng BOX, a small electric hatchback from China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation, received only a three-star rating in rigorous testing conducted by the Euro NCAP independent safety organization.
Key Highlights
- The Dongfeng BOX EV scored a three-star Euro NCAP safety rating due to significant structural failures during crash tests.
- The Cadillac Optiq, a new electric SUV, achieved a top five-star rating, contrasting with the past performance of some American brands.
- Several popular Volkswagen Group models were reassessed, with most earning five stars, while the VW T-Cross received three stars.
- CHERY successfully redesigned its TIGGO models to resolve a safety flaw, elevating their rating to five stars.
Dongfeng BOX Safety Deficiencies
During the frontal offset crash test, which simulates a car-to-car collision, examiners found that multiple spot-welds failed on the vehicle’s body shell. This failure compromises the car’s structural integrity, increasing the risk of cabin deformation and reducing occupant protection. The issue was discovered during the Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier test, which is crucial as frontal collisions account for more deaths and serious injuries than any other accident type.
The BOX scored 69 percent for Adult Occupant Protection, with the unstable bodyshell raising concerns about its performance in higher-speed accidents. Further issues were identified, including the failure of the automatic door locking mechanism to unlock after impact, which could hinder rescue efforts. Testers also noted insufficient pressure in the steering wheel airbag, causing the driver’s head to contact the wheel, and a risk of injury from dashboard components. The vehicle also lacks countermeasures to prevent occupant-to-occupant impact during side collisions.
Dr. Aled Williams, Programme Director at Euro NCAP, stated, “It was a concern that the spot welds were compromised during our tests and could be further compromised in higher-speed accidents. Such a failure must be addressed to match competitor vehicles in what’s a fast-growing part of the EV market.”
Cadillac Optiq Earns Top Marks
In contrast, the Cadillac Optiq, an electric compact SUV, achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating. This strong performance marks a positive trend for American brands, some of which have historically trailed European safety standards. The Optiq scored 83 percent for Adult Occupant Protection, 81 percent for Child Occupant Protection, 76 percent for Vulnerable Road User protection, and 74 percent for its Safety Assist systems.
“There have been times in the past when US vehicles have fallen well short of the safety standards European consumers take for granted,” said Dr. Williams. “But the performance of the Cadillac shows that America’s car makers can hold their own against the establishment from Europe and Asia.”
Volkswagen Models Reassessed
The latest round of testing also included several combustion-powered models from the Volkswagen Group. The Audi Q3, Škoda Octavia, Volkswagen Golf, and ID.4 all scored a maximum five-star rating under 2025 protocols. However, the VW T-Cross fell behind with a three-star rating. These models were reassessed as their market lifecycle is likely being extended due to a slower-than-anticipated transition to EVs.
CHERY Improves Tiggo Safety
Euro NCAP also highlighted a successful safety improvement from another manufacturer. Following the identification of a flaw with the rear curtain airbag in the CHERY TIGGO 7 and 8 models, the company redesigned the system. After a retest confirmed the issue was resolved, both SUVs were awarded a five-star rating.
Dr. Williams commented, “It is pleasing for Euro NCAP to highlight yet another example of a car manufacturer responding positively to the findings of our rigorous, independent safety tests. CHERY acted swiftly to address the fault we identified, and the resulting fix has raised the TIGGO to a five-star rating.”
Latest Euro NCAP Ratings
| Vehicle | Star Rating |
| Audi Q3 | 5 |
| BMW X3 | 5 |
| Cadillac Optiq | 5 |
| CHERY TIGGO 7 (Reassessment) | 5 |
| CHERY TIGGO 8 (Reassessment) | 5 |
| Cupra BORN (Reassessment) | 5 |
| Dongfeng BOX | 3 |
| DS N°8 | 4 |
| EBRO s700 | 5 |
| EBRO s800 | 5 |
| Hongqi EHS5 | 5 |
| IM IM5 | 5 |
| MAZDA 6e | 5 |
| MG MGS6 EV | 5 |
| Škoda Octavia (Reassessment) | 5 |
| Volkswagen Golf (Reassessment) | 5 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 (Reassessment) | 5 |
| Volkswagen T-Cross (Reassessment) | 3 |
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