Latest Euro NCAP results feature electric cars

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is the first electric car to face Euro NCAP’s industry crash test. And there wasn’t a shock in store, as the four-seater supermini scored a credible four star rating, which is shared by its siblings, the Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot iOn.

The Euro NCAP tests are essentially the same as those experienced by conventionally-powered cars, including a 40mph offset head-on crash, 31mph side impact and pole test, where the car is propelled sideways at 18mph into a rigid pole.

However, Euro NCAP’s test engineers do take care to analyse the integrity of the batteries after each crash and the functioning of the battery cut-off switch to ensure that the car doesn’t become a fire hazard.

Euro NCAP has also been busy sending a number of new cars to the block. The Dacia Duster caused concern with a relatively poor three-star rating, with Euro NCAP noting “It is disappointing that a mother company like Renault does not give safety the same priority in Dacia cars as it does in cars sold under its own brand.”

In contrast, the Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Juke and Hyundai ix20 all scored the maximum five stars, and Infiniti became the first manufacturer to receive Euro NCAP’s new Advnaced reward for its Lane Departure Prevention system. 

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