Euro NCAP has announced the winners of its 2022 safety tests, which included evaluations of Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable User Protection, and Safety Assist technologies. This year’s winners, which for the first time include cars from Tesla and new Chinese brands, demonstrate the significance of Euro NCAP’s five-star rating for establishing safety, credibility, and quality in the European car market.
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 was named the best in class for Large Family Cars. It achieved exceptional results in Adult Occupant Protection, scoring 97%. It is fully electric and equipped with the latest safety technologies, exemplifying recent automotive developments. For child occupants, the IONIQ 6 provided good protection for all critical body regions of both the 6- and 10-year dummies in the frontal offset and side barrier tests, and scored maximum points in this part of the assessment.
In the Small Family Car category, the ORA Funky Cat was highly equipped and performed exceptionally well, outperforming several familiar brands. 2022 was notable for the number of new Chinese brands coming to Europe and achieving great results. Following some less-than-successful attempts to break into the European market in the past, several manufacturers are showing that Chinese brands can now compete on safety with well-established European brands.
The WEY Coffee 01 was named best in class in the Large Off-Roader category. It was highly equipped and performed well in all categories. It was closely followed by the LEXUS RX, which also deserves a mention.
Tesla has made a significant impact on the European car market with its design and ethos. The company has also been determined to make a name for its brand in safety performance. Both the Tesla Model S and Model Y achieved the highest score of 98% in Safety Assist out of all the vehicles on the list. The Model S also achieved the best in class in the Pure Electric category. These results underline the importance of the Euro NCAP five-star rating for establishing safety, credibility, and quality in the European market for vehicle manufacturers, not just in Europe but also beyond its borders.
