Renault Zoe awarded zero-star Euro NCAP safety rating

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The all-electric Renault Zoe hatchback is only the third car in history to receive zero stars from Euro NCAP, despite the previous model scoring top marks

The Renault Zoe has become only the third car in Euro NCAP history to be awarded zero stars for crash safety. The previous version of the popular electric hatchback received a five-star rating in 2013, but thanks to more stringent safety tests and the omission of certain safety features, the latest model scored poorly.

2020 Renault Zoe (Image: Renault)

2020 Renault Zoe (Image: Renault)

The Zoe didn’t fare well in the frontal offset crash test, with Euro NCAP citing poor protection of the driver’s chest area. It performed worse in the side pole test, however, which simulates hitting a tree or lamppost side-on. According to Euro NCAP, a third of these accidents are serious or fatal, and the pole struck the test dummy’s head when testing the Zoe.

A key factor in the Zoe’s poor performance is the removal of a head airbag, which protects occupants from side impacts. Renault introduced this type of airbag in 2001 with the Laguna 2, which became the first car to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating. The Zoe’s 43% adult occupant safety score is the lowest in the past 11 years of testing.

Read more: Auto Express

 

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Comments (2)

  1. Paul M

    Reply

    EuroNCap only test the base model, so that any buyer can rely on the rating. Renault decided to make some safety features an option, hence the collapse in score. Word on the street is that Zoe orders are being cancelled in droves as people have found this out.

    People are even talking about taking recent purchases back because the car isn’t as advertised.

  2. Paul M

    Reply

    I hope Fuel Included will follow this story as it unfolds, it’ll be interesting to see if Renault/Nissan decide to update the base model and put the safety features back in.

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