Euro NCAP has declared the modern SUV one of the safest types of new car motorists can choose. The organisation has tested 15 SUVs since 2016 and says they “perform consistently well in impact testing, particularly for adult occupant protection”.
This is good news for new car buyers who are turning to SUVs in ever-greater numbers: following fashion is having a positive knock-on effect on crash protection.
- The cheapest new cars with five stars for safety in 2017
- New Ford Fiesta scores five stars in 2017 Euro NCAP crash test
- Global NCAP ‘frustrated’ by slow Mexican new car safety laws
The latest model to be tested is the Range Rover Velar, which has scored a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, winning particular praise for a very strong side impact test performance: driver’s head protection is particularly crucial here.
And allaying fears that big, heavy SUVs’ safety strength for occupants could be to the detriment of pedestrians, Euro NCAP has also applauded the Velar’s active safety technology, including standard-fit features “designed to avoid the crash happening at all”.
The newest Range Rover scored 75 percent in the Safety Assist category, which is a full seven percentage points better than the SUV average. As standard, it’s equipped with adaptive speed limiter, lane departure warnings, seat belt reminders for passengers – and autonomous emergency braking that can slow the car to a halt if it detects a car or pedestrian ahead that the driver hasn’t reacted to.
“With small SUV sales set to break the two million barrier in 2018, it’s exciting to see one of the leading carmakers in the category deliver on standard-fit active safety systems,” said safety organisation Thatcham Research’s director Matthew Avery.
Indeed, Jaguar Land Rover was earmarked for particular praise, after the Land Rover Discovery and Discovery Sport also recently scored five-star Euro NCAP ratings. “This is another signal from Jaguar Land Rover that safety is a priority.”
