Regularly, the Euro NCAP organization, which tests passive security of new automotive models put on the market, publishes the results of its latest crash tests.Those of the December 8 session are not flattering for Renault, since two models from the French manufacturer receive a donkey cap.The new Dacia Spring on the one hand, harvests only a star, and the Renault Zoé on the other hand, with zero star, is placed in the sad list of few rare models to have the worst score.
In the case of the Dacia Spring, the result was expected.Because of its cheap design, the electric city car of the Romanian brand could not hope better.This model is derived from the ultra low-cost Renault Kwid, intended for emerging markets where passive security regulations are not as demanding as in Europe.The specifications stipulated that the car should be content to comply with the regulations in force (less demanding than the Euro NCAP criteria, which is an independent institute, with its own measurement protocols).The structure was therefore simply reinforced to satisfy the European legislator.Contacted by Challenges, Renault recalls that Euro NCAP is an independent organization that has its own criteria, but in no way decides vehicle approval: """"Renault reaffirms that Zoe E-Tech Electric is a safe vehicle, which answersto all regulatory security standards.These standards are constantly evolving and becoming more and more strict in all areas, especially in terms of security.Renault therefore continuously improves its offer in order to comply with the applicable regulations where its vehicles are sold.""""
Spring obtains 55 % in adult protection, or 21.1 points, 52 % in children's protection or 25.5 points and 39 % in pedestrian protection or 21.3 points, while driving aids are at least limited (30% or 4.9 points).In short, Dacia does not have the least in the world sought to obtain a performance on Euroncap tests.The only awarded star was even accurately obtained.For comparison, the Fiat 500E of an equivalent template obtains four stars during the same test session, with respective notes of 76 %, 80 %, 67 %and 67 %,.The BMW IX, Genesis G70 and GV70, Mercedes-Benz Eqs, Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Caddy have won five stars.
Asked not our self -employed colleagues on the subject, when presenting this model a few months ago, the brand's teams were limited to highlighting the presence of six airbags, ESP (compulsory by regulationsEuropean) and emergency braking aid.Until safeguards which, in our opinion, are not enough to compensate for the very bad adhesion of the Linglong Chinese tires, which automatically equip the small electric Dacia.But if Euro NCAP tests driving aids, starting with ESP, the Institute does not do any handling test.However, this is a key element in the safety of a car.
An unjustly saqué Renault Zoé?
The result of the Renault Zoé is more surprising.Let us recall that the electric city car was still enjoying five stars, the best possible score for Euro NCAP tests, the day before the publication of new results.How could she go from day to 5 stars at 0 star, even though she has not undergone structural technological evolution?This is explained by the EURO NCAP rating today more severe, in particular in terms of driving assistance.While the Zoé, when it was launched in 2013, was credited with an 85 % note (8 points) on this criterion, the organization's requirements have evolved.The 2021 test reports a note of only 14 % (2.3 points).
At Renault, it is recalled that it is the worst note on the four criteria (adult protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and driving aids) which is retained as a global note for the car.This is why the zoé obtains zero star: any note below 30 % automatically leads to zero star, and this is the case in terms of driving aid.It is all the more paradoxical as, during its last development, the cavity with a diamond saw its endowment enriching itself, with the appearance of aid to maintain track, automatic emergency braking, of the systemrecognition of panels and the blind spot warning (certainly optional on certain versions).In short, the Zoé has progressed, but its rating decreases.Renault ensures that the additions of this equipment have been made by studying the accidentology of Zoé models in circulation, and therefore corresponds to concrete cases. Selon le constructeur, la note finale ne saurait présager des performances de la voiture dans tous les critères : """"L'évolution de la ZOE actuelle a été décidée en 2017 en adaptant les équipements de sécurité passive à l'accidentologie réelle et en mettant à jour la voiture avec des équipements (ADAS) de pointe tels que le freinage d'urgence avancé (AEB) avec détection des piétons et des cyclistes, l'alerte de franchissement de ligne et l'assistance au maintien dans la voie, utilisant un radar et une caméra.""""
En images : essai Renault ZoéThe Zoé also lost points in adult protection, with a note of 43 % (16.4 points).The fault mainly comes back to the side shock against a post, with a Euro NCAP test protocol which has evolved since 2013.From now on, the post is of a lower diameter which makes the shock more severe.The modification of the shape of the side airbag in 2019, which protects the head less well, does not help the case.For the electric city car to have a decent performance in the face of the new rules of this test, it would have been necessary to install an airbag curtain.This would have caused too much investment for a model at the end of his career.The Zoé obtains 52 % notes in children's protection (25.9 points) and 54 % in pedestrian protection (22.2 points).
No, the Renault Zoé has not become dangerous overnight
Does this camouflet inflicted on the Renault Zoé means that this model has become dangerous overnight?Certainly not !This mainly highlights the fact that the Euro NCAP rating is questionable, and that the test protocols evolve brutally.In the past, the Fiat Panda and Punto have also paid the price, going from 5 stars to 0 stars respectively in 2018 and 2017.But if these few models were unlucky enough to be tested after several years of career, it can be estimated that it would be the same for most of the marketed models, which were not designed with the latest Euro protocolsNCAP in the heart of their specifications.In short, there are many models still on sale today, aged four or five, which could see their note tumble overnight in the event of a new test.This tends to prove that the vast majority of notes displayed on the Euro NCAP site are deciduous.Above all, with regular developments in protocols, they are absolutely not comparable from one model to another.This turns out to be problematic, for an organization that wants to deliver reliable and clear information to consumers.
If the Renault Zoé has been tested again, it is one of the Euro NCAP rules, as explained by an anonymity an engineer from a large French group. """"Lorsqu’une voiture a été testée par Euro NCAP, l’organisme s’engage à ne pas la tester de nouveau pendant sept ans, s’il n’y a pas de modification sur sa structure"""".Launched in 2013, the Zoé had therefore reached this age.And if Renault liked to present the latest version launched in 2019 as a new generation, it was actually only a restyling, without major evolution on the structure, which explains that it was not tested bythe body then. """"Après ce laps de temps, l’organisme peut de nouveau demander à tester l’auto"""".This is what happened to the Zoé, but also previously to the Fiat Panda and Punto.The seven -year period corresponds to the average lifespan of a automotive model.With this rule, long career models are therefore penalized.
An organization not so independent
Since its inception, Euro NCAP has claimed its status as an independent organization.Which was true at the very beginning, in the mid -1990s, is less and less today. """"Euro NCAP met en place des évolutions régulières de son protocole de test"""", reprend notre source. """"Tous les deux ans, avec des évolutions plutôt mineures, tous les six ans, avec des changements majeurs.Each time, changes in the protocol are discussed with manufacturers.Even if Euro NCAP has the last word """".
One of the latest developments concerns the frontal shock.It was once made against a deformable barrier, at a speed of 64 km/h.From now on, the speed has been reduced to 50 km/h, but the barrier is mobile, and moves at a speed of 50 km/h to simulate a shock between two cars, which corresponds to accidentology data but also shows itselfmuch more severe for the structure of the vehicle.Each time, these new tests are known upstream by the manufacturers, which adapt the design of their models.This explains why the latest models released shine in the tests, while the older models like the Renault Zoé display disappointing results: they were simply not designed for.
If Euro NCAP has proclaimed itself independent, it is because the organization started by buying cars itself from dealerships. Le site internet de l’organisme précise que """"Si un modèle de voiture est déjà en vente, Euro NCAP l’achète habituellement au concessionnaire, de la même manière que les clients"""".But a few lines further, a size shade appears. """"Il est important de publier les résultats le plus tôt possible dans le cycle de vie d’un véhicule afin que la majorité des clients puisse faire un choix en toute connaissance de cause.This means that Euro NCAP will sometimes perform tests on cars that are not yet available from dealerships.In this case, Euro NCAP chooses cars in recent production.Euro NCAP can go to the construction plant to choose random cars where vehicle identification numbers can be chosen randomly from a list provided by the manufacturer """".
Cars provided and prepared by manufacturers
In fact, the manufacturers very quickly understood the commercial argument of a good Euro NCAP notation, and they therefore have an interest in the results are published as soon as possible.This requires a collaboration of manufacturers, who provide cars to the organization. """"Il y a plusieurs manières de déclencher un test"""", reprend notre source. """"Les constructeurs peuvent choisir de faire tester leur propre véhicule.In this case, they are the ones who provide cars, but also pay the laboratory test procedure.Euro NCAP chooses cars from a lot produced on a date and a time slot announced in advance.Needless to say, the manufacture and controls of these models are particularly neat """".
The test on a model can also be requested by a competitor, who would be curious to know the result of a rival model.In this case, it is the competitor in question that pays cars and test battery, but the means of providing cars remains unchanged.Finally, more rarely, Euro NCAP takes care of the tests on certain models of his choice. """"Mais les tests coûtent cher et ils sont parfois moins poussés dans ce dernier cas"""", nous explique notre source. """"Pour avoir une notation complète, Euro NCAP peut dans ce cas extrapoler les résultats en partant d’autres modèles similaires, ce qui n’est pas le cas lors des tests financés par les constructeurs"""".
An organism losing legitimacy
To say that Euro NCAP tests have not advanced automotive security would be a lie.When it was created in 1997, Euro NCAP was satisfied with two tests: a shock at 64 km/h against a deformable barrier with a recovery of 40 % and a side shock at 50 km/h, with a trolley of a mass equivalent tovehicle tested.These constraints, much higher than those of homologation standards, have revealed significant weaknesses during the first batteries of results, to the point of constraining certain manufacturers to remove their models from the market.Euro NCAP thus struck the Glas of the Rover 100 Series, derived from the Austin Metro launched in 1980 and whose results were frightening.The driver was then very likely to get out of a frontal shock.
As early as 2001, the Renault Laguna II was the first auto to win the Grail of the Five Stars, maximum note which applied itself while the protection of adults.With this result, the Euro NCAP notation has crossed a first course, that of maturity.His first mission, that of showing the dangerous cars to eliminate them, was accomplished: the manufacturers took into account this criterion from the design.Consequently, the organization has constantly completed its protocol and to secure the rating by adding new criteria.Thus appeared the lateral shock against a post (at 29 km/h), the pedestrian shock (40 km/h) and, more questionable, a bonus of two points for the presence of a non -alert of belt buckling. C'est ainsi qu'en 2002, la Mercedes-Benz Classe C W203 a rejoint la Laguna au """"club des cinq étoiles"""", par la seule grâce d'un bip sonore.However, the model had absolutely nothing different from that crashed in 2001 ...
C'est toutefois le 1er janvier 2009 qu'est apparue la principale révolution dans la notation.The final note, always with a maximum of five stars, has been a weighting of four criteria since this date: adult protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and safety assistance.The purpose of the operation?Officially encourage manufacturers to no longer focus on the protection of occupants but also to be interested in pedestrians.We can legitimately assume that Euro NCAP wanted this new scale to dig the differences between increasingly numerous competitors to win the five stars, calling into question the usefulness of the tests.But the manufacturers continue to progress, to the point that the five stars have become the standard.So the organization continues to change its protocols and scales, to justify its existence.What would Euro NCAP be used, if all the models had the maximum note?Admittedly, it serves as a sting to advance automobile security, but the case of the Zoé proves that the organization's rating is anything but reliable is readable.The incessant developments of a test protocol developed with the complicity of the manufacturers ensure all new models or almost excellent results, without it being possible to compare models from one year to the next.To be frayed with the manufacturers on which he depends for his survival, Euro NCAP fails in his primary mission, that of informing the consumer with a clear rating allowing to compare the models between them.
