The Renault Zoe electric car has been awarded a zero-star crash-test score by safety organisation Euro NCAP.
It is only the third car in Euro NCAP history to be given a zero-star rating, a dubious honour also held by the Fiat Panda and Fiat Punto.
The poor-performing Zoe scored particularly badly in the side pole test, an assessment that Euro NCAP describes as severe – but one that replicates real-world collisions into trees or telegraph poles.
In the Zoe test, the driver’s head directly impacted the intruding pole, potentially causing serious injury and threat to life.
Surprisingly, the score appears to be so poor because Renault has removed safety features originally fitted to the Zoe.
The pre-facelift version of this model was first tested by Euro NCAP in 2013, when it achieved a glowing five-star rating.
However, the removal of features such as side airbags, combined with Euro NCAP raising its testing requirements every two years, has left the Zoe trailing.
‘Worst in 11 years’
“The adult occupant score of 43 percent for the Zoe is the lowest we have seen in 11 years,” said Thatcham Research executive and Euro NCAP board member, Matthew Avery.
“It is a shame to see Renault threaten a safety pedigree built from the inception of the rating.”
Renault was the first car maker to score a five-star Euro NCAP score back in 2001 with the Laguna 2 – ironically helped by the first fitment of side head airbags, now lacking in the Zoe.
The Zoe also goes without active safety tech, such as lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking, resulting in a dreadful 14 percent rating in the Safety Assist category.
These features are fitted to the Renault Clio, a five-star Euro NCAP car. Euro NCAP points out this model also costs £10,000 less than the Zoe EV.
“Drivers should not have to trade off safety for zero emissions,” the organisation says.
‘Poor and weak’ Dacia
It was an EV double-whammy for the Renault Group too, as value sister-brand Dacia saw its new Spring budget electric car score just one star.
In the Adult Occupant Protection test, it achieved a below-par 49 percent rating through ‘poor and weak protection across several areas… which could result in life-threatening injuries’.
Ironically, this is despite the Spring featuring the full side airbag that has been removed from the Zoe. The Spring also lacks active safety assistance tech, with the company arguing that customers don’t want it.
Euro NCAP disagrees: “An opportunity to exponentially improve safety has been missed – not only for Dacia Spring drivers but also for other road users.”
Euro NCAP highs
Fortunately, other cars tested in the latest round performed much better. The BMW iX electric car, Genesis G70 saloon and GV70 SUV all scored five-star ratings.
The BMW achieved 91 percent for Adult Occupant Protection and the Genesis duo scored 89 percent. They also feature a full suite of active safety tech.
“It’s reassuring to see that some manufacturers are still safeguarding their customers,” said Mr Avery.
“The G70 and GV70 have continued the excellent ratings that Genesis has delivered so far on its vehicles. The BMW iX also performed well, although we have come to expect nothing less from BMW.”
The more affordable Nissan Qashqai and new Skoda Fabia also won five-star ratings, alongside the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which Euro NCAP said was one of the best-performing cars of the year.
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