Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is an independent vehicle safety testing organization that assesses the crashworthiness and safety equipment of new cars sold in Europe. Vehicles are rated on a 0-to-5-star scale.
How It Works
Euro NCAP conducts standardized crash tests and evaluates active safety systems. The overall star rating is based on four categories:
- Adult Occupant Protection: How well the car protects driver and front passenger in frontal, side, and rear impacts
- Child Occupant Protection: Protection for child passengers in crashes and effectiveness of child restraint systems
- Vulnerable Road Users: Protection for pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a collision
- Safety Assist: Effectiveness of electronic safety systems like AEB, lane support, and speed assistance
Each category receives a percentage score, and these are combined under a weighting formula to determine the star rating. The testing protocols are updated periodically, becoming more demanding over time — a 5-star rating from 2024 requires significantly better performance than a 5-star from 2018.
Why It Matters
Euro NCAP ratings are one of the most reliable and comparable safety benchmarks for car buyers in Europe. A 5-star rating indicates that a vehicle meets the highest current safety standards across all four categories.
EVs generally perform well in Euro NCAP testing due to their low center of gravity (heavy battery in the floor), rigid body structures, and comprehensive ADAS equipment.
Common Values
- Rating scale: 0–5 stars
- Test categories: Adult, Child, Pedestrian/Cyclist, Safety Assist
- 5-star threshold: typically requires 80%+ in all categories
- EVs with 5 stars: most modern EVs from major manufacturers achieve top ratings