Euro NCAP tests have become increasingly cumbersome by new testing and evaluation standards. Dacia Spring got only one star in the safety tests, and Renault ZOE, if you can believe it, got a fixed 0 stars. How is that possible?
You already know the story with the new standards. Even if the car gives you enough protection and saves you in the event of an impact, this doesn’t matter anymore. The car had to have all kinds of active safety systems and must excel in 4 chapters: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road Users and Safety Assist. An average is made between the 4 categories and this is where those stars come from.
Even if a car has 5 stars for the Occupying Adult, but 2-3 stars for the other aspects, the average will be a small one. In the case of Dacia Spring, the result of 1 star safety was to be expected because the car does not have active safety systems and many dangerous body elements for the feet, such as the wiper.
Thus, Spring obtained 49% protection for adults, 56% protection for children, 39% protection for pedestrians and 32% for active safety systems.
To better understand what I’m talking about, watch the A-pillar carefully. At the frontal impact, the pillar is not even touched and the deformation of the body does not reach there. Please follow the crash test with the first generation Dacia Logan or Opel Corsa C. Can you tell me by watching the tests which car is safer.
Are you telling me that the 2004 Logan is safer than the Renault Zoe or Spring? Or is the 4-star Euro NCAP Corsa C safer than Spring or Zoe? Just watch the tests.
