Nissan Ariya Euro NCAP crash test

5 stars. Overall excellent performance in crash protection and well equipped with comprehensive and robust crash avoidance technology

The passenger compartment of the Ariya remained stable in the frontal offset test. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger.  Nissan demonstrated that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions.  Analysis of the deceleration of the impact trolley during the test, and analysis of the deformable barrier after the test, revealed that the Ariya would be a moderately benign impact partner in a frontal collision. In the full-width rigid barrier test, protection of the rear passenger’s chest was rated as marginal, based on measured values of dummy chest compression but protection was otherwise good or adequate. In the side barrier test, protection of all critical body areas was good or adequate. In the more severe side pole impact, protection of the chest was rated as marginal, based on readings of dummy rib compression.  Control of excursion (the extent to which a body is thrown to the other side of the vehicle when it is hit from the far side) was found to be marginal. The Ariya has a counter-measure to mitigate against occupant to occupant injuries in such impacts. The system performed well in Euro NCAP’s test, with good protection of occupants’ heads.  Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision.  A geometric analysis of the rear seats also indicated good whiplash protection.   The Ariya has an advanced eCall system which alerts the emergency services in the event of a crash but it lacks a system to prevent secondary collisions in the event of an accident.

The Ariya provided good or adequate protection for all critical body regions of both the 6 and 10 year dummies in the frontal offset and side barrier tests, and scored maximum points in this part of the assessment.  The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. All of the child restraint types for which the Ariya is designed could be properly installed and accommodated.

Protection of the head of struck pedestrian was predominantly good or adequate with some poor areas at the bottom of the windscreen and on the stiff windscreen pillars.  The bumper offered good protection to pedestrians’ legs but protection of the pelvis region was mixed.  The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system of the Ariya can respond to vulnerable road users as well as to other vehicles.  The system performed well in tests of its response to pedestrians and cyclists, with collisions avoided in most test scenarios.

The Ariya’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system performed well in tests of its reaction to other vehicles.  A seatbelt reminder system is fitted as standard to the front and rear seats and the car is equipped with a system to detect driver fatigue.  The lane support system gently corrects the vehicle’s path if it is drifting out of lane, and also intervenes in some more critical situations.  A speed assistance system detects the local speed limit and the driver can choose to set the limiter or let the system do so automatically.