NCAP Ratings

Jun 20, 2005
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Had Which? As a Xmas Pressie.
Shocked to see how many cars are “Don’t Buys” because they have 3 or less NCAP star ratings.
Japanese and Korean fly high but some EU makes are nothing short of dangerous!
Oh. And in this months a very interesting article . EVs have a very poor breakdown record😥😥
Food for thought👍👍
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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Had Which? As a Xmas Pressie.
Shocked to see how many cars are “Don’t Buys” because they have 3 or less NCAP star ratings.
Japanese and Korean fly high but some EU makes are nothing short of dangerous!
Oh. And in this months a very interesting article . EVs have a very poor breakdown record😥😥
Food for thought👍👍
When we sold our XC70 inn2014 two of the criteria were safety and reliability. Looks not that important. The Subaru Forester had a good track record on both counts. In fact around that time a frontal offset test came in to NCAP, it was already in use in the USA. The Forester outperformed all comers in the USA tests. Although now it wouldn’t rate very highly as it lacks the modern electronic safety aids that are essential to score five stars. Although the current model Forester, XV and Outback are high scoring and have all of the gizmos required.

One thing some folks don’t realise is a five NCAP rating for a small car doesn’t mean you are encouraged to try jousting with a larger car of similar or even less rating. 😂
 
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When we sold our XC70 inn2014 two of the criteria were safety and reliability. Looks not that important. The Subaru Forester had a good track record on both counts. In fact around that time a frontal offset test came in to NCAP, it was already in use in the USA. The Forester outperformed all comers in the USA tests. Although now it wouldn’t rate very highly as it lacks the modern electronic safety aids that are essential to score five stars. Although the current model Forester, XV and Outback are high scoring and have all of the gizmos required.

One thing some folks don’t realise is a five NCAP rating for a small car doesn’t mean you are encouraged to try jousting with a larger car of similar or even less rating. 😂
There was (maybe still is) a problem with US tests - the frontal offset test only tests the left side and some models only have strengthening on that side - which can make RHD cars weak in that sort of accident - I believe the Euro NCAP tests both sides.
 
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There was (maybe still is) a problem with US tests - the frontal offset test only tests the left side and some models only have strengthening on that side - which can make RHD cars weak in that sort of accident - I believe the Euro NCAP tests both sides.
Yes but when I bought the Subaru NCAP had no equivalent, but it still outperformed the Volvo and other cars that I considered in US and extant NCAP tests. Don't forget its a Japanese car where they drive on the LHS and widely sold in Australia too, so the design took into account left and right driving.
Lifes a compromise.

PS Edit In 2003 JCAP were conducting front offset tests from Japanese research going back to 1995.
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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Had Which? As a Xmas Pressie.
Shocked to see how many cars are “Don’t Buys” because they have 3 or less NCAP star ratings.
Japanese and Korean fly high but some EU makes are nothing short of dangerous!
Oh. And in this months a very interesting article . EVs have a very poor breakdown record😥😥
Food for thought👍👍
Our 2017 Kia Rio was 3 stars without its safety pack, and 5 stars with the pack. So the gizmos give 2 star extra. The safety pack isn't that comprehensive , its lane control (tried but then never used), AEB (tested on arrival at garage door and it works) , not sure if the rear camera/sensors are in it or not. But the structural strength, and pedestrian protection are the same as are the seatbelts/airbag fitments. To be honest better headlights would feature more highly by me than lane control.
 
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In fact around that time a frontal offset test came in to NCAP, it was already in use in the USA. The Forester outperformed all comers in the USA tests.
US NCAP ratings and EURO NCAP ratings can't be compared. The tests are conducted at different speeds with different barriers and different dummies. US NCAP doesn't take leg injury criteria into account, for example, EURO NCAP does.
 
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US NCAP ratings and EURO NCAP ratings can't be compared. The tests are conducted at different speeds with different barriers and different dummies. US NCAP doesn't take leg injury criteria into account, for example, EURO NCAP does.
Yes but at the time I was making a choice that comparitive information wasn’t available. But as I said in my post the Japanese had been studying it since 1995 and it was in the JCAP in 2003. It’s naive to expect different testing authorities to all move at the same speed. Irrespective the Forester came out very well in all CAP tests whether European, American or Japanese which endorsed my choice.
“The better being the enemy of the good enough “
 
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The trouble is ncap now has a lot of electronic type safety equipment included and I'm not that interested by blind spot assist or emergency braking. Go into the detail and it's occupant safety I am interested in.
 
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Had Which? As a Xmas Pressie.
Shocked to see how many cars are “Don’t Buys” because they have 3 or less NCAP star ratings.
Japanese and Korean fly high but some EU makes are nothing short of dangerous!
Oh. And in this months a very interesting article . EVs have a very poor breakdown record😥😥
Food for thought👍👍
I think you might be over exaggerating the reality. NCAP testing changes over time, and some vehicles which are now only rated 3 stars previously had more. The vehicles it affects have not radically changed and its not the case that some have now become dangerous, it just they may not be as protective as more recent cars.

It does seem

EV's are still an emerging technology, and there are several fistfuls of new manufacturers who have not had the experience of the legacy brands when it comes to developing vehicle reliability. Its also the case there are fewer experts in repairing EV's but there's a lot of investment going into these matters and there is every reason why it should improve. The mechanical construction of EV's involved far fewer moving parts, far less vibration and heat, this is fundamentally good news.
 
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I think you might be over exaggerating the reality. NCAP testing changes over time, and some vehicles which are now only rated 3 stars previously had more. The vehicles it affects have not radically changed and its not the case that some have now become dangerous, it just they may not be as protective as more recent cars.

It does seem

EV's are still an emerging technology, and there are several fistfuls of new manufacturers who have not had the experience of the legacy brands when it comes to developing vehicle reliability. Its also the case there are fewer experts in repairing EV's but there's a lot of investment going into these matters and there is every reason why it should improve. The mechanical construction of EV's involved far fewer moving parts, far less vibration and heat, this is fundamentally good news.
If you look at the NCAP site you can see what your car was rated to at the test regime extant at the time. It’s unfortunate for some makes/ models as there will be times when a models run is out of synch with changes to the test programme. Whilst it’s good to avoid an accident (gizmo aided perhaps) structural safety and airbags are key to surviving a bigger one. We have had two cars written off around us. No gizmos at all, just good Saab and Volvo design and engineering fortunately.
 
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Over the years my wife owned a Fiat Punto but when she had a accident she was lucky to get out alive the car she had airbag electric sunroof etc and looking back the NCAP was not great but now the Mitsubishi Colt she had since 2011 has got good safety equipment including front and side and curtain airbags and a better NCAP rating and she felt more safe.
 
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I think you might be over exaggerating the reality. NCAP testing changes over time, and some vehicles which are now only rated 3 stars previously had more. The vehicles it affects have not radically changed and its not the case that some have now become dangerous, it just they may not be as protective as more recent cars.

It does seem
Please don’t shoot the messenger! I merely quoted a very interesting technically structured article from Which? May I suggest you tackle Which? If you feel their articles are over exaggerated.
My understanding of the NCAP is the same as Clives’. Indeed as said by Jezzer I too want to know what my survival chances are in an accident. No airbag is going to save my legs .It’s the vehicles structural design and strength that matters.
 
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The old Citroen DS20 from the sixties would have probably passed most current NCAP tests due to its design which was light years ahead of many other manufacturers.
 
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I had a late model BMW E30 M Sport series a very nice motor. But one day my wife (who had a 1997 Saab 9000 turbo) asked about the BMW's crash performance. Jokingly I said it had a crumple zone that allowed the engine to move away from the impact zone." How's that" she asked. "Well in the worst case you will see that lovely BMW 6 cylinder engine appear between the two front passengers" She never drove the car again, or wasn't happy for grandkids to go in it either. Fortunately she was driving her SAAB when going around a gentle right hander a Vectra came spinning towards her totally out of control. The SAAB took an almighty offset front impact on its drivers side, and both it and the Vector were written off. My wife suffered whiplash and seatbelt bruising. This happened three days before our daughters wedding. But we were in no doubt that the SAAB's robust design contributed significantly to her relatively light injuries.
 
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Many rear wheel drive cars were designed so that in the event of a head on crash the engine went backwards and under the car to prevent it crushing the front passengers. I don't know about newer cars with transverse engine and front wheel drive?
 
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I had a late model BMW E30 M Sport series a very nice motor. But one day my wife (who had a 1997 Saab 9000 turbo) asked about the BMW's crash performance. Jokingly I said it had a crumple zone that allowed the engine to move away from the impact zone." How's that" she asked. "Well in the worst case you will see that lovely BMW 6 cylinder engine appear between the two front passengers" She never drove the car again, or wasn't happy for grandkids to go in it either. Fortunately she was driving her SAAB when going around a gentle right hander a Vectra came spinning towards her totally out of control. The SAAB took an almighty offset front impact on its drivers side, and both it and the Vector were written off. My wife suffered whiplash and seatbelt bruising. This happened three days before our daughters wedding. But we were in no doubt that the SAAB's robust design contributed significantly to her relatively light injuries.
Back in the '70s when I used to scour scrapyards for Ford GT parts to fit on my basic Escort, I came across a Volvo 145 which had hit a tree dead centre - both headlamps were intact but the centre of the bumper was pushed back a couple of feet and the engine was protruding through the dashboard - but of course other cars of that era wouldn't have been recognisable in a similar accident.
 
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One of my friends had two Saab 9000 . A legendary comfortable and for its day the safest car on the road, see link.
The 900 / 93 models were not so good requiring bulkhead stiffeners. The floor pan was based on the old Vectra.

The DS20 was way ahead of its time. Very expensive at the time.
 
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One of my friends had two Saab 9000 . A legendary comfortable and for its day the safest car on the road, see link.
The 900 / 93 models were not so good requiring bulkhead stiffeners. The floor pan was based on the old Vectra.

The DS20 was way ahead of its time. Very expensive at the time.


I am told that in Sweden when the elk sensed a SAAB 9000 coming down the road, they all headed back into the woods.

My wife's was a late 1997 model the end of the line, and for quite a while was the tow car, doing splendid service on the long hauls to Aveyron and place south. Enormous boot too even without the seats down.C0889EED-5346-4EA3-BE32-78B001501C90.jpeg
 
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The NCAP ratings are given for specific tests so a car may still have a problem with something not included. They are also tested to see how seriously they may injure a pedestrian if you hit one and that could mark it down. How you let that in fluence your thinking will vary but frankly I have never worried about it. Cars seem to sell more on will they do the job for you, price and stile or even accessories.
Not seen any adverts that try to sell on safety that I can think of although I do remember Vauxhall trying to sell soley on accessories without even mentioning if it had an engine. I get the impression safety does not sell.
Electric cars do seem to do badly on the breakdown statistics, although I have very little experience of that. I do know of several people with them and only one has had a breakdown, but there was a long delay in getting the parts to repair it. My nephew is on his second Tesla and has done a considerable mileage, but has had no problems other than charging times on longer trips. Even that he manages to fit in with rest breaks.
 
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The NCAP ratings are given for specific tests so a car may still have a problem with something not included. They are also tested to see how seriously they may injure a pedestrian if you hit one and that could mark it down. How you let that in fluence your thinking will vary but frankly I have never worried about it. Cars seem to sell more on will they do the job for you, price and stile or even accessories.
Not seen any adverts that try to sell on safety that I can think of although I do remember Vauxhall trying to sell soley on accessories without even mentioning if it had an engine. I get the impression safety does not sell.
Electric cars do seem to do badly on the breakdown statistics, although I have very little experience of that. I do know of several people with them and only one has had a breakdown, but there was a long delay in getting the parts to repair it. My nephew is on his second Tesla and has done a considerable mileage, but has had no problems other than charging times on longer trips. Even that he manages to fit in with rest breaks.
Subaru have been advertising the Forester and XV headlining such things as safest in class. Etc. but from sales figures it’s not been a howling success as economy, limited number of dealerships etc, and “not cool”. Ever since the number of rural vets started to decline Subaru sales have gone down. Need a rerun if “ All things ……”
 
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One of my friends had two Saab 9000 . A legendary comfortable and for its day the safest car on the road, see link.
The 900 / 93 models were not so good requiring bulkhead stiffeners. The floor pan was based on the old Vectra.

The whole structure was Vectra-based, only the exterior panels were different - no-one ever found out why but Saab spares were cheaper than their Vauxhall counterpart and became a popular source of bigger brakes for Vectras.
 
Jun 20, 2005
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The NCAP ratings are given for specific tests so a car may still have a problem with something not included. They are also tested to see how seriously they may injure a pedestrian if you hit one and that could mark it down. How you let that in fluence your thinking will vary but frankly I have never worried about it. Cars seem to sell more on will they do the job for you, price and stile or even accessories.
Not seen any adverts that try to sell on safety that I can think of although I do remember Vauxhall trying to sell soley on accessories without even mentioning if it had an engine. I get the impression safety does not sell.
Electric cars do seem to do badly on the breakdown statistics, although I have very little experience of that. I do know of several people with them and only one has had a breakdown, but there was a long delay in getting the parts to repair it. My nephew is on his second Tesla and has done a considerable mileage, but has had no problems other than charging times on longer trips. Even that he manages to fit in with rest breaks.
NCAP and it’s worldwide variations for me are an “independent”method of evaluating the safety of both passengers and pedestrians.What does matter is magazines such as Which? have “Don’t Buy”. The Fiat 500 still remains a Don‘t Buy for example. As a Consumer driven journal should I believe their findings🤔. If not where else do we look?
The EV high rate of breakdowns is quite honestly worthy of a new thread.
 
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NCAP and it’s worldwide variations for me are an “independent”method of evaluating the safety of both passengers and pedestrians.What does matter is magazines such as Which? have “Don’t Buy”. The Fiat 500 still remains a Don‘t Buy for example. As a Consumer driven journal should I believe their findings🤔. If not where else do we look?
The EV high rate of breakdowns is quite honestly worthy of a new thread.
I used to subscribe to Which? magazine but gave up as I spotted too many technical errors in the motoring items and haven't bothered with their opinion since.
 
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I used to subscribe to Which? magazine but gave up as I spotted too many technical errors in the motoring items and haven't bothered with their opinion since.
Their best buys are products that they test when they first come out however they don't do any follow ups. On two or three occasions we have bought the Best Buy only for it to fail within months. Admittedly we have either had a full refund or the product replaced.
However their Which Legal Services is one of the best consumer advice organisations in the UK. We still subscribe to Which.
 

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