Buying your car
Which of the cars tested is the safest? Are large cars safer than small cars? Can results be compared between groups? Which of the cars tested would you buy? Why are Points published as well as the Star rating? What does a star with a strike-through indicate? Is it better to buy a car awarded with 3 stars with a strike-through of the last star or a 2 star car? Because the car is a new model and had to pass European safety standards does that automatically make it safe? Some vehicle manufacturers say it is more difficult to develop a safe vehicle for sale thought the whole world instead of just Europe, is this true?
Which of the cars tested is the safest?
When buying a new car, Euro NCAP advises that all three ratings (adult, child and pedestrian protection) are taken into consideration. For adult occupant protection a 5 star performance (out of a possible 5) in the tests is the most impressive. The safest car for pedestrian protection has achieved the maximum 4 stars (out of a possible 4).
Are large cars safer than small cars?
In frontal impacts between cars, the occupants of the heavier car or the one with higher structures tend to fare better than those travelling in lighter lower cars. As these effects are currently impossible to overcome, Euro NCAP only makes comparisons within size categories. The rating of a car within its size category is a function of the quality of its safety design.
Can results be compared between groups?
No. Results should only be compared within the same group. The frontal testing method mirrors a crash between two similar sized cars. A heavier car or one with a higher structure will tend to have an advantage if it impacts a smaller car. The Euro NCAP results cannot be used to predict the outcome of such crashes.
Which of the cars tested would you buy?
Although safety is an important factor, there are other factors that have to be taken into account when buying a car. In terms of choosing safety, start by deciding on the size and kind of car required then look for the best performers in that group. Other considerations which may be important to some buyers could be the vehicle’s provision for child seats and child safety, which is reflected in the Child Protection Rating.
Why are Points published as well as the Star rating?
The star rating does not show the relative performance between frontal and side impact. To show if there is a mismatch between front and side performance we publish the points for each test as well as the total.
What does a star with a strike-through indicate?
The car is awarded adult occupant protection stars based upon the number of points scored in the frontal and side impact tests. Where a star is struck through, this is done to highlight concern that there is a serious risk of life threatening injury in at least one vulnerable body region - these regions being head or chest for frontal impact and head, chest, abdomen or pelvis for side impact.
3 star with strike-through
2 star
The strike through of the last star indicates that in the tests a vulnerable body region sustained a risk of severe injury. However, the number of stars is calculated on a cars overall performance and therefore three stars are better than two.No. European safety standards have been in place since 1995, but despite this Euro NCAP is publishing results of NEW vehicle models which are only achieving 2 and 3 stars for the adult occupant rating.
Some vehicle manufacturers say it is more difficult to develop a safe vehicle for sale thought the whole world instead of just Europe, is this true?
No. Although there are different standards, in addition to those required for Europe that must be met in order to sell a vehicle throughout the world, a vehicle that provides good protection in Euro NCAP will do so in other impact scenarios.