Tag Archives: Euro NCAP

2025 Mazda CX-5 Nails Euro NCAP Testing With Rock-Solid Structure and Smart Safety Tech

Mazda isn’t known for half-measures, and the automaker’s completely redesigned CX-5 proves that point once again. Fresh off its debut, Mazda’s compact SUV just walked away from the latest Euro NCAP safety trials with a full five-star rating—and the kind of category scores that even premium players would envy.

The new CX-5 didn’t simply pass Europe’s toughest crash tests; it impressed across the board, earning 90% for adult occupant protection, 89% for children, 93% for vulnerable road users, and 83% for safety assist tech. Those numbers place it squarely in the top tier of modern family SUVs.

Rock-Solid Structure, Smart Protection

In the frontal offset test—one of Euro NCAP’s most unforgiving assessments—the CX-5’s passenger cell stayed reassuringly stable. Mazda’s engineers clearly sweated the details: knee and thigh protection scored well, and key body regions landed consistently in the “good” or “adequate” zone.

Side impacts tell an even clearer story. The SUV performed strongly in both the wide, rigid barrier test and the classic side-impact scenario, and even the brutal pole test (which simulates a narrow, tree-like obstacle) showed adequate protection. Mazda’s side airbags and occupant-movement control systems helped contain forces especially well in far-side collisions—an area many competitors still struggle with.

Whiplash protection? Excellent in both front and rear rows. Bonus points go to the onboard tech: an advanced eCall system, secondary-collision mitigation, and even confirmed window/door functionality in the event of submersion.

Child Safety: Top Marks Across the Board

Parents will like what they see. The CX-5 scored 89% in child occupant protection, including maximum points for both 6- and 10-year-old dummies in frontal and side impact tests.

Mazda has clearly prioritized flexibility, too. The SUV includes automatic passenger-airbag deactivation for child-seat placement and supports a wide array of CRS (Child Restraint System) types. Euro NCAP confirmed that all approved child seats fit correctly and securely—something that can’t be said for every compact SUV.

A Guardian for Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Motorcyclists

Where the new CX-5 really pulls ahead of its peers is in vulnerable road user protection, where it earned a stellar 93%.

The hood and bumper geometry scored well or adequately for pedestrian head impacts, and lower-limb protection earned maximum points. But the magic lies in Mazda’s latest-generation AEB suite. The system detects cyclists and pedestrians—including those approaching from behind—while excelling in tricky real-life scenarios like reversing or dooring.

Motorcyclist protection also topped out at maximum points, a rare accomplishment even among safety-forward SUVs.

Safety Tech That Feels Polished, Not Intrusive

Safety Assist systems rounded out the CX-5’s performance with an 83% rating, powered by Mazda’s increasingly refined ADAS suite.

The AEB system reliably spotted other vehicles; seatbelt reminders and a direct driver-monitoring camera add everyday peace of mind. Lane-keeping assist gently nudges the SUV back into line during wandering moments, stepping in more assertively if things get serious.

Mazda’s speed-limit recognition system also proved trustworthy, reading local signage accurately and letting drivers tailor automatic speed adjustments to their preference.

Mazda’s new CX-5 isn’t just safer than the outgoing model—it’s one of the safest compact SUVs on the market, full stop. Its strong passive structure, polished driver-assistance tech, and standout protection for pedestrians and riders make it a segment benchmark.

If Mazda wanted to send a message with this redesign, Euro NCAP has delivered it loud and clear: the CX-5 is built not only to drive well, but to protect what matters most.

Source: Automative News

Volvo EX90 Nails Five Stars in Euro NCAP: Safety Nerds, Rejoice

Volvo didn’t just ace the latest round of Euro NCAP safety testing—the brand’s new all-electric flagship, the EX90, walked away with a full five-star score and some of the highest marks handed out this year. If you’ve been paying attention, this shouldn’t shock you. Safety is practically Volvo’s middle name. If the company could trademark seatbelts, it probably would have.

Euro NCAP, Europe’s long-standing independent crash-test authority, put the seven-seat family hauler through its usual gauntlet of impacts, avoidance maneuvers, and child-safety evaluations. The EX90 didn’t flinch. It delivered especially strong results in both adult and child occupant protection—categories that carry real-world significance for families who care about more than just charging time and touchscreen sizes.

“Volvo Cars has long been a pioneer in automotive safety, and the EX90 is the latest example of that leadership,” says Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo’s Safety Centre. According to Volvo, the SUV’s performance reflects more than five decades of studying actual crashes—over 50,000 of them involving more than 80,000 people. This isn’t theory; it’s data-driven design shaped by what happens on real roads, not just what looks good in a controlled lab.

That research forms the backbone of the company’s internal Volvo Cars Safety Standard, a benchmark that goes beyond legal testing requirements. In practice, that means the EX90 isn’t just trying to pass tests—it’s engineered for the unpredictable chaos of daily traffic.

The EX90 is also the most digitally advanced Volvo to date. Built around core computing and constantly updated software, the SUV uses a suite of sensors, radars, and cameras to build a live 360-degree picture of its surroundings. Volvo calls this Safe Space Technology: an integrated safety net that not only reacts to danger but actively looks for it.

Inside, the hardware is equally serious. Reinforced structures and updated restraint systems are tuned specifically for the EX90’s electric architecture. One standout is the driver understanding system—named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024—which monitors the driver’s condition in real time. If the system senses fatigue, distraction, or anything that suggests the person behind the wheel isn’t fully engaged, it offers support. Think of it as having a hyper-aware co-pilot who never blinks.

There’s also a full-cabin occupant sensing setup capable of detecting movements as subtle as a baby’s breathing. If someone—or something small—is left inside unintentionally, the car can alert the driver. For parents, pet owners, or anyone prone to misplacing things, that’s peace of mind you can’t put a price on.

The five-star score joins a growing trophy shelf for the EX90, which already claimed the 2024 World Luxury Car Award earlier this year. With its blend of digital smarts, conservative Volvo style, and a safety strategy built on decades of real-world data, the EX90 isn’t just another electric SUV. It’s the latest chapter in Volvo’s long-running mission to make crashes less deadly—and ideally, less likely in the first place.

Source: Volvo

Euro NCAP has tested new models for 2021

The European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) tested the 01 hybrid and NIO electric ES8, two Chinese models, which received all five stars in the test.

“The wave of new Chinese-made electric vehicles in Europe is underway with new models launched by BYD, XPeng, DFSK, Seres, etc. Unfortunately, many of them are still not so transparent to European consumers when it comes to safety Lynk & Co and NIO, however, show that the label “Made in China” is no longer a derogatory term when it comes to car safety.Here we have two new cars, both Chinese development, which are extremely “They show well in our tests. It is clear that all manufacturers know that Euro NCAP will adhere to high standards if they want to sell cars in Europe and are satisfied that they are willing to invest to get the best safety ratings, ”said Euro NCAP Secretary General Michiel van Ratingen.

Lynk & Co is a brand that is new to Europe, and the Model 01 uses a “family” connection with the Geely brand to take over the base with the Volvo XC40. The results of the EuroNCAP test are impressive. The hybrid / plug-in hybrid small SUV withstands shocks well, but highlights its 96 percent score for adult occupant protection, including maximum side impact score. This, as well as a whole host of active safety features, help it secure a five-star rating.

The second tested Chinese car is the NIO ES8. Its European journey, this all-electric car with 6 or 7 seats, began in Norway. In testing, he achieved enviable results in the field of active safety. He scored 92 points on the Safety Assist test. Its autonomous emergency braking system has achieved particularly good results.

Other test models also achieved good test results, such as the Toyota Mirai with hydrogen fuel cell propulsion, the all-electric Audi Q4 e-tron with the best safety results, the Subaru Outback with ICE and the Ford Kuga PHEV.