Euro NCAP: 2018 Best In Class Cars Announced

After the disappointing results of the new-gen Jeep Wrangler and Fiat Panda, Euro NCAP has now flipped things around, naming the safest cars of the year in each class.

The big winner in the ‘Small Family Cars’ segment is the latest Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The compact hatchback managed to outscore its main rivals, earning 96 percent, 91 percent and 92 percent in Adult Occupant, Child Occupant and Pedestrian protection, as well as 75 percent in Safety Assist.

The gold medal in the ‘Large Family Car’ class goes to the Lexus ES. The executive sedan, which replaces the GS, is a 5-star vehicle with 91 percent, 87 percent and 90 percent scored in the Adult Occupant, Child Occupant and Pedestrian safety categories, respectively. In the Safety Assist, the 2019 Lexus ES scored 77 percent.

For the first time, Euro NCAP has given an award for the best safety performance of an electrified model, and the big winner is the Lexus ES 300h.

Also Read: New Volvo S90 And V90 Get Top Safety Ratings From Euro NCAP

Hyundai has claimed the final award in the ‘Large Off-Roaders’ class with the Nexo. The hydrogen-powered crossover managed to obtain 94 percent and 87 percent in the Adult and Child occupant categories, 67 percent in Pedestrian safety and 80 percent in Safety Assist, which rounds up to a 5-star rating.

“In 2018, we introduced tough new tests, with a particular focus on Vulnerable Road User protection”, said Euro NCAP Secretary General Michiel van Ratingen. “The three ‘Best in Class’ award winners this year all clearly demonstrate that carmakers are striving for the highest levels of protection, and that Euro NCAP’s assessments are a catalyst for these crucial safety improvements.”

In order to qualify for the ‘Best in Class’ award, vehicles need to perform better than their competitors. The European car safety specialists measure them by the weighted sum of scores in each of the four areas of assessment: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian and Safety Assist. Also, the comparison is made within each calendar year, as this ensures all vehicles are assessed against the same safety standards.