Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is a voluntary vehicle safety rating system founded in 1997. It assesses the safety performance of new cars, publishing safety reports on each car tested. Euro NCAP is based in Leuven, Belgium.

The program assesses a vehicle's safety through a series of crash tests and evaluates the availability of safety technology. These tests are designed to simulate real-life accident scenarios and provide consumers with an independent and transparent view of a car's safety performance.

Euro NCAP publishes star ratings, ranging from zero to five stars, to indicate the overall safety of a vehicle. Higher star ratings indicate better performance in crash protection and the availability of robust crash avoidance technology.

The star rating is based on performance in four main areas of assessment:

• Adult Occupant Protection: Evaluates the level of protection offered to the driver and front passenger in various crash scenarios.

• Child Occupant Protection: Assesses the protection provided to child occupants, considering both crash performance and the availability of appropriate child restraint systems.

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: Focuses on the protection offered to pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a collision. This includes assessments of head impact zones and autonomous emergency braking systems that can detect and react to vulnerable road users.

• Safety Assist: Evaluates the availability and effectiveness of various safety technologies, such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keeping assist, and speed assistance systems.

Euro NCAP's testing protocols and assessment criteria are regularly updated to reflect advancements in vehicle safety technology and evolving real-world accident trends. The program is supported by several European governments, motoring organizations, and consumer protection groups. Its goal is to encourage manufacturers to design and build safer cars, thereby reducing road casualties. The results are widely used by consumers to inform their car purchasing decisions and by fleet operators seeking to minimize safety risks.