Euro NCAP announces overhaul of testing procedures
Euro NCAP has announced a major overhaul of how it evaluates the safety of modern cars in modern driving conditions.
The largest revision since the overall rating system was introduced in 2009 will come into force next year.
It will revamp vehicle testing and scoring procedures based around four key stages of safety, with each stage scored out of 100 points and expressed as a percentage.
The four stages of safety are:
- Safe Driving – Considers the vehicle technologies and features that assist in providing a safer driving experience for the driver and vehicle occupants
- Crash Avoidance – Assesses the crash avoidance systems that help prevent or mitigate critical incidents through warnings or autonomous intervention
- Crash Protection – Evaluates the performance of traditional crash protection elements, including vehicle structure, seatbelts, airbags, and head restraints to mitigate injuries to vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and cyclists
- Post-Crash Safety – Addresses the ‘golden hour’ of emergency response through post-crash rescue information and assistance systems.
The new approach enables Euro NCAP to test safety technologies by stage while also evaluating solutions that operate across multiple stages.
Meanwhile, new test scenarios will be introduced to represent real-world environments, while crash-protection evaluations will also expand to incorporate a broader spectrum of body sizes.
Updates
Dr Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, said: “Every three years, we re-examine our star rating criteria with the simple aim of reducing vehicle-related deaths and serious injuries.
“The 2026 protocols further strengthen the rigour and relevance of our tests, rewarding vehicles that perform well across all stages of safety – before, during, and after a crash.
“The updates to protocols ensure that Euro NCAP’s testing, analysis, and ratings remain the definitive guide for consumers who value an impartial guide to the safety of the latest cars.”
