Euro NCAP has tested the driver assistance systems of seven cars on the highway. The software and hardware of the BMW iX3 was labeled ‘very good’, although the Polestar 2 failed to impress.
Euro NCAP regularly subjects cars to crash tests, but also carries out other safety tests. This time, the safety institute has tested seven cars from different segments for driver assistance systems intended for driving on the highway. Euro NCAP assesses the cars in two main areas: Assistance Competence which examines the balance between driver involvement and driver assistance systems and Safety Backup which looks at the ‘safety net’ function the systems provide.
The systems that BMW delivers on the iX3 are labeled ‘very good’. Under the heading Assistance Competence the iX3 takes 83 percent of the achievable points. Safety Back-up is assessed with 86 percent of the points. Cupra’s Formentor returns home with a ‘Good’ rating. The SUV closes the chapter Assistance Competence with 70 percent of the points, in terms of Safety Back-up it accounts for 74 percent of the achievable score. Critiques of Euro NCAP include the fact that the Formentor in the head-up display does not directly indicate the status of the semi-autonomous Travel Assist system and the car would have difficulty avoiding stationary objects in that mode. The active blind spot detection also works less well at higher speed, according to the safety institute.
The semi-autonomous systems of the Ford Mustang Mach-E are also labeled ‘Good’. The electric SUV scores 69 percent and 83 percent of the attainable score behind the Assistance Competence and Safety Backup components. Euro NCAP has criticized the lack of a head-up display that can display information about the Co-Pilot 360 system in front of the driver’s nose. The organization also commented on the fact that that driving system does not automatically adjust speed for bends or intersections. In addition, the system is not always able to keep the car neatly on the road when cornering.
The safety systems of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 score successively 77 percent and 50 percent of the points on the Assistance Competence and Safety Back-up components. Euro NCAP has criticized, among other things, the adaptive cruise control that does not automatically brake at roundabouts and intersections. The lack of an active blind spot assistant on the tested version also costs the Korean points. Euro NCAP places the label ‘moderate’ on the semi-autonomous systems (Highway Driving Assist II) of the Ioniq 5 and also gives that rating to the hardware and software (Pilot Assist) of the Polestar 2. The EV scores behind the heading Assistance Competance receives 50 percent of the attainable score, Safety Back-up receives 85 percent of the attainable points. Also with this car, the adaptive cruise control, which does not automatically slow down for bends and intersections, is a target of criticism. In addition, Euro NCAP is not pleased with the extent to which the Swede brakes for stationary cars. In addition, the Polestar 2 would only be able to hold itself in the middle of the lane at low speed in S-turns without driver corrections. The tested Polestar 2 also lacks an active lane assistant, which costs the electric sedan points.
Finally, Euro NCAP takes a look at Advanced Lane Keep Assist from the Opel Mokka-e and the Safety Sense package from the Toyota Yaris. The systems of both cars are labeled ‘Basic’. The Mokka-e and Yaris successively score 57 and 56 percent of the achievable points in the Assistance Competence section, and 44 and 53 percent under the heading Safety Backup. Euro NCAP says that the essential functionalities work, but that things are not as refined as on models with more extensive safety systems.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl