Green NCAP awarded the electric Jeep Avenger a five-star sustainability rating at 96 percent, the highest score among eight of Europe’s best-selling new cars assessed in a new cross-market study. The independent assessment programme, which rates a vehicle’s full environmental impact rather than tailpipe emissions alone, examined top sellers across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. The findings appear in a Green NCAP feature story drawing on the organisation’s cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment methodology. The data shows wide gaps between electric, hybrid, and petrol models that volume sales make significant across the continent.
Highlights
- The electric Jeep Avenger topped the group at five stars and 96 percent, with a perfect 10/10 Greenhouse Gas Index and real-world consumption of 16.4 kWh/100 km in mild weather.
- The MINI Cooper E scored five stars (95 percent) with life cycle emissions of 117 g CO2-eq./km and an Energy Efficiency Index of 9.7/10.
- The Renault 5 E-Tech, France’s best-selling electric car in April, earned five stars (94 percent), including a perfect 10 for greenhouse gas levels.
- The petrol-powered BMW 5 Series placed lowest at 2.5 stars (46 percent), held back by a Greenhouse Gas rating of 2.7/10.
How Green NCAP Measures Total Environmental Impact
Green NCAP applies a life cycle assessment that scores raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, energy supply, and direct greenhouse gas emissions, rather than focusing on tailpipe output alone. The organisation notes that labelling electric cars as “zero-emission” without this context can be misleading, since battery production, vehicle manufacturing, and energy sourcing all carry a carbon cost that standard ratings often omit. The methodology has expanded in recent years to capture range, charging times, and cold-weather behaviour, an area Green NCAP’s cold-weather testing has examined in detail across earlier vehicle batches.
According to Green NCAP, factors such as battery size, vehicle weight, and the sustainability of energy supply processes shape a car’s overall footprint. The selected models represent a small sample of nearly 200 vehicles the organisation has tested and rated.
The Electric Leaders
The three highest-scoring cars were all battery-electric, and all shared compact dimensions and modest mass.
The Jeep Avenger Electric, built on the Stellantis eCMP2 platform, shares its foundation with the FIAT 600e. Green NCAP rated it using a methodology that transfers results between vehicles with the same key technical specifications, so it achieved five stars and 96 percent in line with its sibling. Its mild-weather consumption of 16.4 kWh/100 km could rise to 24.8 kWh/100 km in the −7°C cold ambient test, potentially limiting winter range on mixed roads.
The MINI Cooper E paired a low vehicle mass of 1,561 kg with a 36.6 kWh usable battery to minimise energy demand across all tested conditions. It recorded a 9.4/10 for Clean Air and 9.6/10 for Greenhouse Gases. Green NCAP highlighted the MINI’s regenerative braking, which reduces brake wear and non-exhaust emissions.
The Renault 5 E-Tech posted strong results across Clean Air (9.1/10) and Energy Efficiency (9.3/10), with a perfect 10 for greenhouse gas levels. Green NCAP attributed the result in part to Renault’s compact platform and 1,453 kg mass, which aid efficiency even during manufacturing.
The Hybrid and Petrol Field
The conventional and mild-hybrid models trailed the electric leaders, though several earned respectable marks for their class.
The Citroën C3 Hybrid scored 3½ stars (62 percent), with its mild hybrid system delivering efficiency gains and reduced fuel consumption in urban driving. Green NCAP found it offered only a slight environmental advantage over conventional petrol small hatchbacks. The petrol Dacia Sandero TCe 100 earned three stars (59 percent), with above-average energy efficiency that Green NCAP linked to its low mass and straightforward engineering, demonstrating that affordable conventional cars can reach respectable environmental performance.
The Volkswagen Passat 1.5 eTSI achieved three stars (52 percent), scoring 6.8/10 for Clean Air thanks to effective exhaust after-treatment, while its Greenhouse Gas index of 3.4/10 reflected the CO2 output of its petrol engine. The BMW 5 Series, tested in 520i mild-hybrid petrol form at 1,805 kg, finished last at 2.5 stars. It earned 6.5/10 for Clean Air but 2.7/10 for greenhouse gases, with Green NCAP noting it lacks the energy recuperation of more electrified rivals.
| Model | Powertrain | Rating | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Avenger Electric | Electric | 5 stars | 96% |
| MINI Cooper E | Electric | 5 stars | 95% |
| Renault 5 E-Tech | Electric | 5 stars | 94% |
| Citroën C3 Hybrid | Mild hybrid | 3½ stars | 62% |
| Dacia Sandero TCe 100 | Petrol | 3 stars | 59% |
| Volkswagen Passat 1.5 eTSI | Mild hybrid | 3 stars | 52% |
| BMW 5 Series 520i | Mild hybrid | 2.5 stars | 46% |
Across the tested models, Green NCAP’s results reinforce that vehicle weight and powertrain electrification, more than badge or body style, drive a car’s cradle-to-grave footprint.
“By using Green NCAP’s independent sustainability ratings, Europe’s motorists can now identify which of the continent’s best-selling cars have the lowest environmental impact from cradle to grave. Unlike standard ratings that focus primarily on tailpipe emissions, Green NCAP’s sustainability rating is the most authoritative, impartial overview of a car’s total environmental impact. Factors such as battery size, vehicle weight, and the sustainability of energy supply processes shape a car’s overall footprint. And with a wealth of information about real-world driving experience, Green NCAP is also the go-to resource to determine how well a new car meets a driver’s practical needs.” — Dr. Aleksandar Damyanov, Technical Manager, Green NCAP
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