Euro NCAP: Crash Test Safety Ratings

Understanding Euro NCAP stars and European crash test results

What is Euro NCAP?

The Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is an independent automotive safety testing organisation founded in 1997. It evaluates the safety of new vehicles sold in Europe through standardised crash tests and assigns a rating from 0 to 5 stars.

Independent organisation

Euro NCAP is neither a manufacturer nor a government: it is a consortium supported by the European Commission and several member governments

Standardised tests

Each vehicle is subjected to the same crash test protocols, allowing an objective and reliable comparison

Rating from 0 to 5 stars

5 stars represent the highest level of safety; the rating takes into account occupant protection, pedestrian protection and driver assistance

Evolving protocols

Assessment criteria are regularly tightened, which means that 5 stars in 2024 is more demanding than 5 stars in 2015

Good to know

Euro NCAP tests are not mandatory for placing a vehicle on the market. They are carried out independently to inform consumers. However, the vast majority of manufacturers voluntarily submit their models, as a good Euro NCAP rating is a major selling point.

How does the star rating system work?

The Euro NCAP safety rating is a synthesis of four assessment areas. Each area receives a percentage score, and the overall star rating reflects the vehicle's combined performance.

Rating Stars Meaning
5 stars Excellent overall safety performance. Robust and comprehensive collision avoidance equipment.
4 stars Good overall performance. May lack some advanced driver assistance technologies.
3 stars Average occupant protection. Limited or partial active safety technologies.
2 stars Nominal crash protection, but significant lack of modern safety technologies.
1 star Marginal collision protection. Little or no active safety equipment.
0 stars Does not meet the minimum passive and active safety standards assessed by Euro NCAP.

Caution when comparing across years

Euro NCAP criteria are regularly tightened. A vehicle rated 5 stars in 2015 might only achieve 3 or 4 stars under current protocols. Always compare vehicles tested in the same year or check the test year.

The 4 assessment categories

Each vehicle tested by Euro NCAP is evaluated across four distinct areas. The final star score is calculated from the combination of these four results, each expressed as a percentage.

Adult occupant protection

Adult Occupant

Measures the protection offered to the driver and adult passengers in different collision scenarios:

  • Offset frontal impact (deformable and rigid)
  • Lateral impact (barrier and pole)
  • Whiplash effect
  • Post-collision eCall system

Child occupant protection

Child Occupant

Evaluates the safety of children of different ages (6 and 10 years old) in the vehicle:

  • Dynamic protection during crash tests
  • Compatibility with child seats (i-Size)
  • Ability to deactivate passenger airbag
  • Seatbelt reminders for rear seats

Vulnerable road users

Vulnerable Road Users

Tests the vehicle's impact on pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a collision:

  • Pedestrian head and leg protection
  • Cyclist protection
  • Autonomous Emergency Braking (pedestrians/cyclists)
  • Reversing detection

Safety assist

Safety Assist

Evaluates onboard technologies that help prevent accidents:

  • Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) car-to-car
  • Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
  • Driver fatigue / distraction detection
  • Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA)

Euro NCAP on SwissCarInfo

SwissCarInfo integrates Euro NCAP data directly into the detailed vehicle data sheets. When you view a vehicle on our platform, you can see its safety rating at a glance.

Star rating

The overall Euro NCAP rating (0 to 5 stars) is displayed directly on the vehicle data sheet, along with the test year.

Detailed scores

The percentages for all 4 categories (adults, children, pedestrians, safety assist) are available.

Quick search

Search by make, model or type approval number to access safety data.

How to access Euro NCAP data

Perform a search on SwissCarInfo, then view the detailed vehicle data sheet. The safety section displays the Euro NCAP rating when available for the model in question. The data covers vehicles tested since 1997.

Model family: one rating per family

Euro NCAP tests are carried out by model family, not by individual variant. This means that a single rating covers all versions of the same model, regardless of engine type or trim level.

What is covered

All variants of a model (petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric) sharing the same platform and body structure

Limitations

Optional safety equipment may vary between trim levels; the rating is based on standard equipment

Practical example

A VW Golf VIII tested in 2024 receives the same Euro NCAP rating whether you choose the 1.0 TSI, 1.5 TSI, 2.0 TDI or GTE hybrid version, as they share the same structure and standard safety equipment. The Golf VII (previous generation), however, has its own rating, corresponding to the year it was tested.

Learn more

To view full crash test reports, test videos and detailed results by model, visit the official Euro NCAP website:

Visit euroncap.com

Crash test videos

Watch slow motion crash tests for each vehicle tested.

Technical reports

Download PDF datasheets detailing each measurement point.

Best in Class

Discover the safest vehicles of each year by category.

Frequently asked questions

Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is an independent organisation founded in 1997 by the European Commission and several European governments. It is funded by its members, including transport ministries, automobile clubs (such as TCS in Switzerland) and insurance organisations. Manufacturers do not directly fund the tests, which guarantees the independence of the results.

Stars are calculated from the scores obtained in the 4 assessment categories: adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection (pedestrians and cyclists), and safety assist. Each category gives a percentage, and minimum thresholds must be reached in each area to obtain the corresponding number of stars. For example, to achieve 5 stars, a minimum score must be exceeded in each of the four categories.

With caution. Test protocols are tightened every 2-3 years. A vehicle rated 5 stars in 2015 would not necessarily be rated 5 stars under 2024 criteria, as new requirements have been added (cyclist detection, automatic reversing braking, etc.). For a reliable comparison, prefer vehicles tested in the same year or check the protocol version used.

Not necessarily. Euro NCAP only tests a limited number of models each year, focusing on the best-selling vehicles. An untested model was simply deemed a lower priority, or the manufacturer did not wish to submit the vehicle. All vehicles sold in Europe must nevertheless comply with mandatory EU safety standards (ECE/UNECE), which constitute a minimum baseline.

Euro NCAP evaluates by model family. All variants sharing the same platform, body structure and standard safety equipment receive the same rating. Thus, a petrol version and a diesel version of the same model will have the same score. Only a generation change (new model) or a major structural update triggers a new test.

Yes, and they are often among the highest rated. Electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3, Volvo EX30 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 have achieved excellent ratings. The absence of a combustion engine at the front often allows for optimised crumple zones. Euro NCAP also tests battery-specific safety (post-collision fire risk) in its protocols.

SwissCarInfo displays the star rating and detailed scores (percentages) for the four categories directly on each vehicle's data sheet, when a Euro NCAP rating is available for the model. Data is associated by model family, in accordance with Euro NCAP methodology. You can access it via the search page.

Indirectly, yes. Swiss insurers take into account claims statistics and repair costs, which are closely linked to vehicle safety. A vehicle well rated by Euro NCAP tends to better protect its occupants (lower medical costs) and has systems that avoid or mitigate accidents (fewer claims). This can be reflected in liability and comprehensive insurance premiums.