Zoe gets zero stars for safety

Renault Zoe received the lowest possible score following testing by Euro NCAP

THE RENAULT ZOE electric car has become the third car ever to receive the lowest rating for safety from independent organisation Euro NCAP, as part of its latest round of testing.

When the Zoe was originally tested in 2013, it was awarded five stars, but Renault has removed key safety features from the model since then. The spec changes – which are thought to be due to the ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage and might be a temporary measure – mean the Zoe now falls far short of the safety standards that are achieved by most new cars.

Explaining its rating, Euro NCAP said the Zoe scored poorly in the safety assist category because it isn’t currently fitted with active safety systems such as lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking (AEB) – features that are standard on most new cars. Their absence in the Zoe means its category score was considerably lower than the average achieved by other car makers.

The model also performed poorly for adult occupant protection in crash tests, including those that simulate the worst accidents.

In response, Renault said it acknowledges the results obtained by Euro NCAP but insists the Zoe is a safe vehicle that complies with all regulatory standards, and that it is continually improving its vehicles to comply with ever-evolving standards.

The Zoe’s result wasn’t the only bad news for the Renault Group in Euro NCAP’S latest round of testing, with the new Dacia Spring receiving a one-star rating. It recorded poor results across all categories, including in the areas of adult and child occupant protection, and was criticised for lacking many key active safety systems designed for crash avoidance.

Like Renault, Dacia responded by saying that its car is safe and complies with all European safety regulations. It also said it would not be fitting vehicles with extra safety features or technologies that its customers did not want to pay for, just to chase Euro NCAP stars.

Other vehicles included in this round of testing performed much better, with the BMW ix, Genesis G70 and GV70, Mercedes-benz EQS, Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Caddy all receiving five-star ratings, while the electric Fiat 500 managed four stars.

Euro NCAP toughens up its testing every two years to encourage car makers to keep improving safety standards.