In a statement, the German carmaker said that its ID.3 managed to achieve the highest score possible.
The auditors gave the first model to be based on the new modular electric drive matrix (MEB) good ratings in all criteria – for the protection of adult occupants, children and vulnerable road users as well as for its safety assist systems.
The assessment of occupant protection for adults is based on factors including frontal impact, lateral impact and whiplash tests.
Based on these tests and an assessment of the measures taken with regard to prompt and safe rescue and extrication, a protection level of 87% was determined for drivers and passengers in the ID.3. A protection level as high as 89% was attested for children.
This evaluation is based on three important aspects: In addition to the protection provided by child restraint systems in the event of a frontal or lateral impact, the options in the vehicle for installing child seats of various sizes and categories as well as the equipment that a vehicle offers for the safe transportation of children were examined.
In addition to occupant protection in vehicles, Euro NCAP also examines how well automatic emergency braking systems (AEB) can protect vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclists – in the event of an impending collision.
The auditors also attached great importance to further standard assistance systems. One of the positive things about the ID.3 is that all equipment variants come with the lane-keeping assistant “Lane Assist” and the emergency braking assistant “Front Assist” as standard.
For the first time at Volkswagen, a feature known as a centre airbag for the front seats is also installed in the ID.3.
This prevents possible head contact between the driver and front passenger in the event of a side collision.
Volkswagen also offers additional assistance systems as an option in other markets - one of them being adaptive cruise control (ACC) with predictive speed detection.
Also available is Travel Assist which enables assisted driving up to 160kph as well as Traffic Jam Assist, Blind Spot sensor with Rear Traffic Alert, Emergency Assist and Park Assist.
In addition to the ID.3 attaining a five-star safety rating, at Euro NCAP, the new Golf and the T-Cross recently achieved the highest ratings as well.
The European New Car Assessment Programme has served as a strict benchmark for the safety level of new cars since 1997 and provides car buyers in Europe with up-to-date information on the safety of popular new models.
In recent years, the test procedures and requirements for the standard driver assistance systems and passive safety have been tightened and all details are publicly available at www.euroncap.com.
"This is a great success for our entire ID. team. A high level of safety in our vehicles is always very important to us and has therefore been incorporated into the MEB concept from the start. The ID.3 impressively demonstrates this with its five stars," said Volkswagen board member of management responsible for development Dr Frank Welsch.
