Zoe’s zero score under new safety protocol

The Renault Zoe and Dacia Spring have achieved zero stars and one star respectively in the latest Euro NCAP safety assessments, Thatcham Research reports.

It says Euro NCAP’s severe side pole test revealed the most drastic results in the Zoe.

“It is a serious concern to see results like this in 2021, especially from a carmaker who has previously performed well in Euro NCAP testing,” Thatcham Research chief research strategy officer and Euro NCAP board member Matthew Avery says.

“Renault was the first to achieve the full five-star rating in 2001, in part because it was also the first to include a combined head and thorax airbag in the Laguna 2. Although this was a new and revolutionary safety measure at the time, today this airbag is available on most modern cars.”

The Zoe was originally tested by Euro NCAP in 2013, where it achieved a five-star rating. However, key passive safety features have since been removed and with Euro NCAP raising the bar in its testing every two years the Zoe has been left behind the standard achieved by most carmakers in 2021, Thatcham Research says.

“The adult occupant score of 43% for the Renault Zoe is the lowest we have seen in 11 years,” Avery adds.  

“Overall, carmakers today consistently achieve good ratings in impact testing, in spite of Euro NCAP raising the bar to ensure the programme remains the most safety-focused in the world.”

The Renault Zoe also lacks active safety technology commonly fitted as standard in most new vehicles, Thatcham Research says.

The result was a 14% score in the Safety Assist category, 61% lower than the average (75%) achieved by carmakers in the same category this year.

“Drivers should not have to trade off safety for zero emissions,” Avery says.  

The electric Dacia Spring, part of the Renault group, scored one star in the Euro NCAP tests.

The Adult Occupant Protection score (49%) betrayed poor and weak protection across several areas of the crash test dummies, which could result in life-threatening injuries in a real-life crash scenario, Thatcham Research says.

Not only did its passive safety performance demonstrate a lack of basic protection for its passengers in impact scenarios, but key active safety systems designed with crash-avoidance in mind, are also missing from the Dacia Spring, Thatcham Research says.

The BMW iX, Genesis G70 and GV70, Mercedes-Benz EQS, Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Fabia, and VW Caddy all achieved five-stars with good active and passive safety performance in the same testing round, while the Fiat 500e and MG Marvel R received four-star ratings.