A couple years ago, Euro NCAP has tested the various driving assist systems of ten different cars, coming to the sad conclusion that none of the bunch succeeded in all the trials. After reviewing its testing protocol and methods, the committee made another attempt – and here are the results.
Three German cars proved to be A-graders with the maximum four points scored: the Audi Q8, the Mercedes-Benz GLE, and the BMW 3 Series sedan. The committee did point out that the trio had its minor quirks and flaws, but nothing to warrant a deduction of points. The Ford Kuga showed so-so performance with three points.
And then there were the Nissan Juke, the Tesla Model 3, the Volkswagen Passat and the Volvo V60. All four landed with dismal two points, which likely offended their respective makers, given that it was Tesla that pioneered the Autopilot feature and Volvo that introduced the world to its vast array of safety aids.
The Model 3 received a particularly harsh review, with Euro NCAP pointing out two major flaws. First, the name “Autopilot” sounds too misleading, prompting some people to abandon control of the car and create dangerous situations. Second, the Tesla sedan proved incapable of passing the so-called moose test, in which the car must evade a sudden obstacle on the road. On a brighter side, the Model 3 showed smooth cruise control performance.
Trailing in the back are the two worst performers on the smart car market: the Peugeot 2008 and the Renault Clio, both given one point out of four.