Thatcham Research has praised the safety of electrified vehicles reviewed in its latest round of crash tests, awarding the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ioniq 5 five stars.
It noted the “majority of dedicated EVs tested throughout 2021 have achieved top Euro NCAP ratings”.
The Mustang performed well in all areas of testing, “providing a great example of the ongoing investment in safety made by carmakers”, Thatcham said.
The Mach-E was also one of the first few cars to have Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) both in front to protect against forward collisions and also at the rear.
” ‘Reverse AEB’ can help to avoid and mitigate reversing accidents into both pedestrians and other vehicles, although this feature would need to be switched on manually by the driver before use,” Thatcham said.
Chief strategic research officer Matthew Avery said: “It is positive to see a mainstream brand like Ford contributing to the EV safety narrative, proving that EVs are just as safe as ICE vehicles and a good choice of family car.
“This well-rated EV is a good, safe choice for families and represents a great start for Ford in paving the way for its future Mustang EV range.”
Five for the Ioniq 5
Avery added: “The Hyundai Ioniq 5 also sets a strong safety precedent for the brand.”
The model achieved a five-star rating, performing well in all areas of testing with strong adult and child occupant protection scores of 88% and 86% respectively, and includes important features like a centre airbag for occupant to occupant protection in lateral impacts. The Ioniq 5’s Safety Assist features also scored highly with good AEB and driver monitoring systems.
The Hyundai Bayon achieved four stars. It is based on a vehicle already available in other countries, with less stringent testing, but is new to Europea.
Avery said: “The Bayon performed solidly in testing, however, it is disappointing to see the car dropping points in some areas. The lack of a lateral impact airbag specifically, as Hyundai was one of the first manufacturers to fit this important passive safety feature to its vehicles and it is present in both the Ioniq 5 and Tucson.”
The Tucson, a mid-size SUV, received five stars, providing good protection to all sizes of dummy.
The Toyota Yaris Cross hybrid was another five star car. Avery said: “This vehicle is a good option for those that don’t want to commit to something fully electric but still want a very safe vehicle from a known manufacturer.
“The Yaris is also aimed at the more affordable end of the market yet does not sacrifice any Euro NCAP stars or compromise on safety in any way, despite being less expensive than other hybrid or fully electric vehicles.”