BMW i3, Ford EcoSport and Nissan Note each score four stars in Euro NCAP tests
Euro NCAP has awarded four-star safety ratings to the BMW i3, Ford EcoSport and Nissan Note, with each model showing strengths and weaknesses in different test categories.
Euro NCAP’s latest round of crash tests saw the BMW i3, Ford EcoSport and Nissan Note each secure four-star safety ratings, falling short of the maximum five stars achieved by some rivals. The results, published in late 2013, highlight how different approaches to safety and equipment can affect a car’s overall rating.
BMW i3: strong structure, but safety assist holds it back
BMW’s new i3 electric hatchback achieved 86% for adult occupant protection and 81% for child occupants. The car’s structure performed well in most areas, but the side impact pole test revealed a weak result for the dummy’s torso. The neck in the rear impact test was rated marginal, and the driver’s left leg in the frontal impact was also marked as marginal. Safety assist systems scored just 55%, which contributed to the car missing out on a fifth star. Pedestrian protection was rated at 57%.
Ford EcoSport: high adult protection, but limited safety tech
Ford’s EcoSport compact SUV scored 93% for adult occupants, the highest among the three, and 77% for child occupant protection. Most body areas were rated adequate or better, but the car’s safety assist score matched the i3 at 55%. Pedestrian protection reached 58%. The tested model was the EcoSport Titanium. The limited standard fitment of advanced driver assistance systems played a part in holding the EcoSport to four stars.
Nissan Note: balanced scores, stronger safety assist
Nissan’s Note supermini achieved 86% for adult protection and 82% for child occupants. Pedestrian protection was 58%, while safety assist reached 70%, the highest of the three. The main weaknesses were found in leg and neck protection, rated marginal in some tests. The tested version was the 1.2 Acenta. The Note’s stronger safety assist score reflects more standard-fit technology, but it still fell short of five stars due to impact performance.
- BMW i3: 4 stars, strong occupant protection, weak side impact result, limited safety assist.
- Ford EcoSport: 4 stars, best adult protection, safety assist and pedestrian scores below five-star threshold.
- Nissan Note: 4 stars, balanced performance, higher safety assist, but some marginal impact results.
Comparisons with five-star rivals
All three models lag behind recent five-star performers such as the BMW X3 and Nissan Qashqai, which have achieved higher scores in both occupant and safety assist categories. The results underline the importance of both crash protection and standard-fit technology in achieving top marks. For buyers, the four-star ratings may influence decisions in a segment where five-star alternatives are available. For a comparison with a five-star Nissan, seeNissan Qashqai awarded five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
