The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is about to take a decisive step forward in automotive safety. On February 21, 2025, the new protocols were approved and will come into force in 2026. These changes mark a major overhaul of the method used to assess vehicle safety levels.
Euro NCAP Tests: An Evolving Assessment
Euro NCAP now reviews its safety protocols every three years to adapt its tests to technological developments and new road safety challenges. The current assessment system will be replaced in 2026 by a new rating methodology clustering tests according to the four distinctive stages of an accident: safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection, and post-crash safety.
Safe Driving: Updates and the Introduction of a New Protocol
The criteria for the “Safe Driving” category are strengthened, particularly regarding the detection of driver states incompatible with safe driving, as well as the evaluation of driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as lane-keeping assist. Furthermore, Euro NCAP introduces its first protocol for evaluating Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI), which examines accessible controls, such as physical or tactile buttons without haptic feedback, as well as their positioning in the cockpit. Manufacturers will have to comply with a set of specific requirements for the “Driving” and “Comfort & Infotainment” categories.
Active Safety and Crash Avoidance: A Better Representation of Real-World Situations
Although active safety has been present in Euro NCAP evaluations for over ten years, the new 2026 protocols aim to assess crash avoidance systems in various configurations to test the robustness of these functions in real-world conditions. The focus is also on the acceptability of collision warnings and emergency interventions by considering, whenever possible, the driver’s intention and level of distraction.
Passive Safety and Crash Protection: a Better Protection for Road Users
Passive safety, which comes into play if a crash occurs, is also evolving to better protect older or smaller occupants by including them in more Euro NCAP test configurations. The protection of children also remains an important focus, with the introduction of a new Lower Tether system designed to more effectively secure child seats in the event of a rear-end collision.
Other areas for improvement include the assessment of occupant protection in rollover situations and a more comprehensive approach to pedestrian collisions, including areas around the windshield.
To enhance robustness, passive safety tests are supplemented by simulations that explore a wider range of configurations. The use of numerical crash test dummies is increasing, but the major innovation is the introduction of Human Body Models (HBM), which will eventually enable a greater number of configurations and morphologies to be evaluated.
Post-crash: New Requirements for Better Emergency Response
In terms of post-crash intervention, requirements are evolving: eCall and Multi-Collision Braking (MCB) systems evaluation protocols are being improved, and new features such as the automatic activation of hazard lights are being introduced. The occupant extrication procedures are also updated to consider, for example, situations where passengers and rescuers may need to open the doors after a crash in the event of vehicle power failure. Finally, new requirements have been introduced for the detection and management of thermal propagation in electric vehicles.
For 2026, Euro NCAP’s ambition is to enhance car safety by focusing on the effectiveness, robustness and acceptance of driving aids. Without neglecting its traditional field, Euro NCAP is maintaining a solid base of physical tests for passive safety but is further improving the protection of occupants in all their diversity, notably through simulation.