Thatcham Research praises soaring safety standards
Thatcham Research has praised vehicle manufacturers after reporting that safety scores during last year’s Euro NCAP tests were the highest ever recorded.
It has revealed that all the cars tested during the past 12 months scored at least a four-star rating for the first time in the programme’s history, while 80% received the highest five-star accolade.
Matthew Avery, Thatcham Research chief research strategy officer, said: “Thatcham Research actively promotes innovation in both impact protection and crash avoidance technologies, and as leading advocates for the Euro NCAP programme, it is satisfying to see 50 out of the 66 cars tested in 2022 achieving a five-star rating, resulting in perhaps the strongest safest cars list we have seen.
“This is something for which carmakers should be applauded, and we are pleased so many are continuing to prioritise motorist and vulnerable road user safety – especially during times of great technological and economic disruption.”
Thatcham Research has also revealed the top 10 safest cars tested last year, which represent the nominations for the coveted What Car? Safety Award 2023.
They are: BMW X1; Hyundai Ioniq 6; Lexus NX; Mazda CX-60; Mercedes-Benz EQE; Nissan Ariya; ORA Funky Cat; Smart #1; Tesla Model Y, and Toyota bZ4X.
