The new series of Euro NCAP 2024 tests has produced some surprising results, with some long-awaited models on the market barely passing the safety test. Get ready for a shock – models like Dacia Duster and Jeep Avenger have disappointed this time!
Euro NCAP 2024 surprised us a bit this year, as our favorites got extremely bad reviews. When it comes to car safety, in recent years we have become spoiled with maximum ratings. Five stars of Euro NCAP has become the norm, but 2024 has brought some surprises that will shock many. In the latest testing, some of the most anticipated cars are as popular as they are Dacia Duster, failed the test with only three stars, while some others, like Jeep Avenger and Renault Captur, also disappointed.
The worst in the test: Dacia Duster - affordable, but with safety issues
Although Dacia Duster has never been known for top security, the fact is that in recent tests he has collected only three stars, a strong warning to potential buyers. It performed best in the category of child protection in a vehicle with 84%, which shows the solid safety of younger passengers. However, other categories revealed the weak points of this popular model. The protection of adult passengers is rated barely 70%, which means that the risk of injury in a collision is higher, while the protection of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists is rated only with 60%. This is well below average.
The active safety system, which has become crucial in modern cars, was even more disappointing in the Duster 57%, indicating a lack of automatic braking and hazard recognition. Criticisms were mainly at the expense of the lack of sensors for the rear passengers, as well as the fact that the automatic speed adjustment system is not always active. Along with these results, the question arises as to whether the Duster is really suitable for anyone who wants to put safety first. Duster therefore fared very poorly on Euro NCAP 2024.
The Suzuki Swift 2024 also fared extremely poorly.
Jeep Avenger: SUV looks, but only average protection
Another unexpected result was Jeep Avenger, who received three stars. The Avenger did a great job protecting adult occupants with a rating 77%, but it completely failed in the category of protecting vulnerable participants, where it scored modestly 59%. With this result, it turns out that this SUV is not the most friendly to pedestrians and cyclists, which should worry buyers who move in urban environments.
Most worrying was the fact that the collision avoidance system failed several times on this model, leading to a poor rating in active safety – only 55%. Considering that the Jeep Avenger is marketed as a rugged and safe all-terrain vehicle, this result is more than surprising.
Renault Captur: Four stars, but with flaws
Renault has long been known for the high safety of its vehicles, but this time they are Renault Captur and its electrical counterpart Renault Symbiosis somewhat disappointed. They were assessed with four stars, which is not a bad result, but compared to expectations, it is still less than expected. Problems arose mainly in the category of active safety, where it is achieved 69% far from the best results in its class.
The Captur can boast of good child protection with a rating 80%, but the protection of adults and vulnerable participants was worse than expected, with ratings 73% and 76%. With these results, Captur and Symbioz failed to fully convince in their safety, although Renault is otherwise famous for good results in Euro NCAP tests.
Winners: Subaru, Audi and Xpeng at the top
On the other hand, there are some new models such as Subaru Impreza and Crosstrek, proved themselves with top marks. So are they Audi Q6 e-tron and Xpeng G6 came out of the tests with the highest marks, as they achieved perfect marks five stars. This is just another proof that premium brands and new players in the market as it is Xpeng, take safety seriously and strive to meet the highest standards. Electric Ford Explored, XPENG G6, BYD Seal also received 5 stars.
At Audi Q6 e-tron the high protection of vulnerable road users was particularly highlighted 84%, while Subaru's models boast a comprehensive safety rating that extends beyond 90% in the protection of adult passengers.
Are the Chinese ahead of the EU here as well?
Chinese cars that scored in the Euro NCAP tests five stars, include BYD ATTO 3, which impressed with good ratings in the protection of adults and children, Zeekr 001, a prestigious model of the Geely brand with exceptional results in all categories, Geely Geometry C, an affordable electric crossover with excellent safety systems, Nio ES8, a luxury SUV that stands out with advanced safety technologies, and XPeng G9, a prestigious SUV with superior autonomous driving and high safety ratings.
Conclusion: Expectations are high, but not always met
The results of this year's tests Euro NCAP 2024 have shown once again that safety in the automotive industry is still not entirely self-evident. Although most cars receive top marks, there are always models that disappoint - either because of lacking safety systems or because of poor passenger protection. Dacia Duster and Jeep Avenger were an unpleasant surprise this year, while Renault Captur and Symbiosis show that they still have room for improvement.
