2024 Zeekr X primed for five-star ANCAP safety rating

The upcoming 2024 Zeekr X will almost certainly come with a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating when it arrives Down Under later this year, since it was just awarded an equivalent rating by Euro NCAP.

Given the Euro NCAP and ANCAP testing and scoring regimes are now aligned, the top safety rating achieved by the Zeekr X in Europe should carryover to Australia – provided there are no glaring differences in safety specifications for our version of the all-new Chinese electric SUV.

Due in local showrooms by September, the all-new compact electric SUV attracted 91, 90, 84 and 83 per cent scores in the adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection and safety assist categories respectively.

It’s a solid result for Zeekr, which will be one of at least 13 new Chinese brands expected to launch in the Aussie market by the end of 2025, since the X is set to do all the heavy-lifting on the sales charts because it’s a small SUV and the only other Zeekr model available from launch will be the high-end 009 electric people-mover.

The Euro NCAP scores also bode well for the recently introduced Volvo EX30, which shares the bulk of its DNA – platform, motors, battery, operating software, etc – with the Zeekr X, but is yet to be safety-tested locally and/or have its five-star Euro NCAP rating carried over here.

Pricing for the Zeekr X is expected to start somewhere around the $60,000 mark, as per its Volvo sibling, though there could be some handy variation between the two in terms of standard equipment to avoid too much conflict between two Geely Group brands in the same sales segment.

The Zeekr 001 electric fastback sedan also attracted a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, but hasn’t yet been confirmed for the Australian market.

Other models tested in the latest round of Euro NCAP assessment include the new Honda CR-V, the next-generation Volkswagen Tiguan, the upcoming Ford Tourneo Custom and the LDV MIFA 7, most of which achieved four- or five-star ratings.

It was the Ford that netted the lowest marks of the quartet – being awarded just three stars in standard guise and four when fitted with the optional safety pack.

The Transit Custom van-based people-mover – headed to Oz later this year – performed acceptably in the physical crash test but fell well short in the safety assist category with a final score of just 53 per cent, increasing to just 62 per cent with the safety pack fitted.

The Euro-spec Honda CR-V did better but still only achieved a four-star rating in standard trim, although higher grades available with the Honda Sensing 360 suite – versus Honda Sensing – scored five stars, again rectifying some shortcomings with the standard driver-aid suite and enhancing its vulnerable road user protection.

The Australian CR-V doesn’t include Honda Sensing 360 nor any of the safety suite’s additional features, meaning our CR-V may only get a four-star ANCAP rating.

The all-new Volkswagen Tiguan and LDV MIFA 7 were both awarded five-star ratings without any equipment concessions hindering their scores.

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