The European safety organization EuroNCAP released the latest round of crash test results on Wednesday, and as usual, Chinese manufacturers continue to excel. The ZEEKR X and ZEEKR 001, which are also sold in Israel, both received the maximum rating of 5 stars.
In the detailed ratings, the ZEEKR X scored 91% for adult occupant protection, 90% for child occupant protection, 84% for pedestrian protection, and 83% for safety assist systems.
Interestingly, the larger and more expensive ZEEKR 001 scored slightly lower, with 89% for adult occupant protection and 88% for child occupant protection. The other ratings were identical to those of the ZEEKR X.
Despite the praise for ZEEKR, EuroNCAP emphasized their commitment to promoting safety systems that do not distract or bother drivers. "We will examine these aspects more closely in the future," they added. Another Chinese model that passed the tests successfully with a 5-star rating is the Maxus MIFA 7 minivan, which is not yet available in Europe but is expected to arrive in the coming months, and may eventually be sold in our market as well.
European models also performed well: the new generation Volkswagen Tiguan received 5 stars, with sub-scores of 83% for adult occupant protection, 88% for child occupant protection, 84% for pedestrian protection, and 78% for safety assist systems. EuroNCAP praised Volkswagen for including advanced safety systems in all versions, including the more basic and affordable ones.
In contrast, the Ford Tourneo Custom, the passenger version of the Transit Custom sold here, received only 3 stars in its base version, or 4 stars with an extended safety package. "We believe Ford will be disappointed with this result," the organization noted, "especially considering their efforts to improve the safety levels of their other commercial models."
Additionally, the electric Renault Scenic received a 5-star rating without a dedicated test, based on a score given two years ago to the electric Megane, which shares its platform.
Our take: Recent EuroNCAP crash tests show that, unlike in the past, Chinese brands now match their Western competitors in safety, at least for models sold in Europe. With ZEEKR and Maxus joining the long list of Chinese manufacturers adorned with 5-star ratings, this trend is clear.
However, a note on the increasingly common practice of awarding crash test ratings without dedicated tests, based on past tests of other models with the same platform. While this seems reasonable for nearly identical models, such as coupe versions of SUVs, it appears less so for vehicles from different categories and with varying dimensions—like the Megane and Scenic, or the Dacia Sandero and Jogger—especially when the original rating was given some time ago. The cost savings are clear, but the accuracy of these results compared to dedicated tests is questionable.