Ever bigger, ever heavier: E-mobiles in particular are now frequently breaking the three-ton mark, complains the safety organization Euro-NCAP. In the current test round of eleven new cars, only three had a 2 before the decimal point for the total weight in tons. The smallest model was the Smart #3 – a compact crossover from the former small car brand.
Despite the challenges posed by their weight, the large models in particular performed well in the collision test. The business sedans Volkswagen ID.7 and BMW 5 Series as well as the SUVs Mercedes EQE SUV, BYD Tang, BYD Seal U, Kia EV9 and Xpeng G9 each achieved five stars. The same applies to the smaller Smart.Three fail to achieve the top rating. The Vinfast VF8, a Vietnamese electric SUV, the small electric crossover Hyundai Kona and the Honda ZR-V, the only hybrid in the field of candidates, were only enough for four stars. The Hyundai Kona only narrowly achieved the fourth star – the driving assistance and accident avoidance systems were particularly disappointing in the test. “The cars rated with five stars are convincing in all criteria – but that doesn’t mean that there is no room for improvement.” says Max Lang, ÖAMTC vehicle safety expert. An example: During a side impact, the heads of the dummies in the BYD Tang, the Mercedes EQE and the Smart #3 hit each other in the front seats. “In such a scenario – which also occurred in the test with the four-star cars Honda ZR-V and Vinfast VF8 – life-threatening injuries can be the result.” There is little to complain about when it comes to child safety: all eleven vehicles were able to do so with very good values. In total, EuroNCAP has officially tested 17 car models this year. Only three vehicles missed the five-star rating. Next year, the organization will modify its testing process. Among other things, the networking between vehicles and between vehicles and infrastructure is then evaluated.
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