NCAP Crash Tests
What's involved in NCAP crash tests?
Euro NCAP's tests concentrate on those accident types most likely to result in serious or life-threatening injury.
There's no 'pass' or 'fail' – the star ratings and scores show how well cars perform in the tests and inspections against a preset standard. The cars are inspected after the tests, and the ratings adjusted where appropriate to take account of how well the car would protect people of different sizes.
Crash Facts
- Euro NCAP buys test cars anonymously, but checks they are the latest models
- All cars undergo front and side-impact testing, which includes:
- 64kph (40mph) offset front-impact test
- 50kph (30mph) side-impact test
- 29kph (18 mph) optional pole-impact test to the driver's head
- 40kph (25mph) child and adult pedestrian impact tests
- Each model is given an overall rating of up to five stars
The Tests
Manufacturers are asked for information to assist in preparing the cars, to recommend child seats and make other relevant comments. They are also invited to witness the tests, given the results and allowed a chance to point out anomalies shown by their own data.
Front-impact test
Front impact: car crashes at 40ph with 40% of the width of the front striking the barrier
Side-impact test
The car is stationary and struck in the driver's door by the trolley moving at 30mph.
Pedestrian tests
Pedestrian tests: dummy adult and child body parts packed full of impact sensors are fired at locations across the car's bumper and bonnet to replicate a 25mph collision.
Comparing Different Models
Each car is tested in one form only. Different models may perform slightly differently, and Euro NCAP has no way of knowing if cars with different engines or hand of drive would give appreciably different results. The manufacturer should ensure that other variants perform at least as well as the car tested.
Comparing Different-sized Cars
In the side-impact test, a fair comparison can be made between different-sized cars. The frontal test replicates a crash between two identically sized cars – a family car against another family car – so comparisons can only be made within a size category.
Neither the results for frontal impact nor the overall adult occupant rating should be compared between cars in different size categories.