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Latest Euro NCAP results mark shift towards new sensing technologies

Clear assessments to end consumer confusion

Automated Driving is not a reality yet. The most sophisticated systems available to motorists today are Assisted Driving technology.

For today’s Assisted Driving technology to be considered safe and effective, we assess its performance across three key areas:

  • The level of vehicle assistance provided
    How effective are the speed assistance, steering assistance and adaptive cruise control systems?
  • The level of driver engagement offered
    Does the carmaker use misleading terms to refer to its technology in its marketing? What does the car do to make sure the driver is still paying attention?
  • The effectiveness of its safety backup systems
    How well does the car protect its occupants in an emergency such as a system failure or an imminent collision?

Vehicle scores and grading

Each car is tested and awarded a score out of 100 for each of the performance criteria listed above.

However, the maximum number of points that can be scored is 200 because the lesser score of vehicle assistance and driver engagement is added to ‘safety backup’ to grade the balance of the system.

The best – and safest – Assisted Driving systems achieve a good balance across all three performance criteria.

Headline findings from our latest ADG assessments (May 2022)

  • Nissan Qashqai and VW ID.5 achieve ‘very good’ ratings
  • Polestar 2 upgrades its Pilot Assist system via an Over-the-Air update to improve its steering support, which takes its rating from ‘moderate’ to ‘good’
  • ‘Entry’ rating for the Jaguar I-Pace which delivers the essentials for assisted driving but lacks more advanced features
  • Thatcham Research encourages drivers to reap safety and comfort benefits of ‘driver assist’ systems
  • Read the full press release HERE

Jaguar I-Pace

Although the driver engagement score was very good, meaning the system and brand marketing does not encourage over-reliance, it delivers a balanced assisted driving experience but lacks more advanced features.

Click here for the full Euro NCAP Assisted Driving datasheet

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan's Pro Pilot system can adapt to the speed limit and road features that require a change of speed such as curves in the road and upcoming roundabouts. Its Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system provides an excellent level of emergency support, avoiding most collisions with both moving and stationary vehicles.

Click here for the full Euro NCAP Assisted Driving datasheet

Polestar 2

The Polestar 2’s Pilot Assist is another well-balanced system receiving a ‘good’ rating, in part due to improvements made via an Over-the-Air (OTA) update since the vehicle was rated in 2021.

Click here for the full Euro NCAP Assisted Driving datasheet

VW ID.5

Its Travel Assist system was rated ‘very good’, scoring 76% for assistance competence and 85% for safety back-up. It scored full marks in assisting the driver in guiding the vehicle through motorway curves and for its steering interactivity when altering lane position.

Click here for the full Euro NCAP Assisted Driving datasheet

Assisted Driving Grading

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Explained: Assisted Driving

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