The electric vehicle brand Zeekr has made a mark in the latest Euro NCAP test, with the compact Zeekr X, a sibling to the Volvo EX30, achieving the highest score ever recorded in a Euro NCAP assessment.
There was a time when Chinese cars were synonymous with questionable safety. That perception has changed. In recent years, a number of new Chinese car brands have emerged, demonstrating that not only do they match competitors in terms of comfort and driving performance, but they also meet safety standards.
This is evident in this year’s second Euro NCAP test, where three out of six vehicles are from Chinese manufacturers. All three have secured an impressive five-star safety rating.
The most notable among them is the new brand Zeekr, backed by the Geely group. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, Zeekr is part of Geely’s Volvo branch. The new brand offers two models, the Zeekr X and 001, both included in the current test batch, with the Zeekr X achieving the best overall result to date after Euro NCAP recently tightened its testing requirements.
“Zeekr is an exciting new brand expected to launch in Denmark after the summer. It shares technology with Volvo, which is reflected in its high safety standards, particularly for the Zeekr X, which is a sibling to the Volvo EX30. The collision safety for both large and small passengers is exceptional. Additionally, the vehicles are equipped with a robust emergency braking system that can detect both soft and hard road users. Overall, all new assistive systems come standard and function effectively. It’s very positive to see Chinese car manufacturers prioritizing high safety standards to this extent,” says Søren W. Rasmussen, the automotive technical editor at FDM.
The new large Maxus Mifa 7 also scores a full five stars with confidence.
The tested vehicles also include the popular VW Tiguan and the new electric version of the Renault Scenic, both achieving five-star ratings effortlessly.
“The Renault Scenic is a highly successful electric vehicle and rightfully earned the title of Car of the Year 2024. It is a sibling to the Renault Megane E-Tech, which was tested in 2022, meaning this is just a supplementary assessment. Overall, it achieves a solid five Euro NCAP stars, albeit reflecting the standards of 2022,” adds Søren W. Rasmussen.
“In contrast, the stars awarded to the VW Tiguan reflect the 2024 model year. The Tiguan has been a popular SUV in recent years and has now entered its third generation, receiving improvements in various areas, including safety. While it remains a very secure option, its safety ratings are slightly lower than those of the Zeekr models.”
The last car in the test is the passenger version of the large Ford Tourneo, which can accommodate up to eight people. It was tested both with and without a safety package, receiving three stars without the package and four stars with it.
“Three Euro NCAP stars in 2024 are not acceptable, and Ford compromises safety by requiring an additional purchase for a safety package that includes a better emergency braking system to achieve four stars. This is simply not good enough, Ford,” states Søren W. Rasmussen.
Tested Vehicles:
https://fdm.dk/nyt-kinesisk-bilmaerke-har-imponerende-god-sikkerhed
