• Euro NCAP just delivered its biggest overhaul in over a decade.
  • The BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT were the first two cars put through it.
  • Both earned five stars, yet only one of them came out on top.

The BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT are the first two vehicles to earn five-star safety ratings under Euro NCAP’s overhauled testing procedures, the biggest revamp of its scoring in more than a decade. If you expected the German machine to come out ahead, brace yourself, because the Chinese EV was the one that edged out the BMW.

Read: Zeekr’s 007 GT Is One Sexy Looking Wagon Heading To Europe

Euro NCAP now runs new vehicles through four stages, covering Safe Driving, Crash Avoidance, Crash Protection, and Post Crash Safety. In that first stage, the iX3 earned a 73 percent rating, winning praise for its abundance of physical controls, its driver-monitoring system, and its speed-limit recognition.

BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway

Across 2,000 km (1,242 miles) of real-world testing in Italy, France, Germany, and Austria, the speed limit assist function correctly identified signage changes in 86 percent of instances, equating to 97 percent of the driven distance. Euro NCAP found the iX3’s driver monitoring system less sensitive to brief visual distraction, and pointed out that while the system can classify occupants, it can’t detect an out-of-position front passenger or spot improper seatbelt use.

The Zeekr 7GT performed even better, scoring 79 percent in the category thanks to its sophisticated driver monitoring system and sensors that flag incorrect lap-only seatbelt use. Zeekr also fitted a manual front passenger airbag cut-off switch for rear-facing child seats along with a child presence detection system that can warn bystanders when a child is left behind. Its speed sign recognition proved weaker, reading limits correctly in only 79 percent of cases, and its vehicle controls cost it points because so many of them live inside the infotainment display.

Two Very Safe EVs

BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway

Photos EuroNCAP

In crash avoidance, the new iX3 earned 83 percent while the 7GT stretched ahead at 89 percent. Both cars ran strong active safety systems. Euro NCAP said the Zeekr’s autonomous emergency braking showed near-flawless execution across a range of tests, which helped it pull clear, and its dooring prevention system warned occupants before they could open a door into the path of an oncoming cyclist.

Both the BMW and Zeekr held up well in Crash Protection. The iX3 landed 86 percent and took maximum points in side-impact evaluations, though it managed only good or adequate protection in frontal offset testing. It also fell short of full marks in the full-width test thanks to a marginal driver chest score, even after both rear child dummies earned top marks.

The 7GT once again came out ahead with 93 percent and maximum points across the side mobile barrier, side pole, and far-side occupant impacts. As with the BMW, it drew only a good or adequate rating in frontal offset protection for adults, and it too scored full points for both rear child dummies.

BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway
BMW Says Its iX3 Aced Euro NCAP’s Toughest Test. A Chinese EV Beat It Anyway

Photos EuroNCAP

Last but not least is Post Crash Safety, with both scoring 95 percent. While both the iX3 and 7GT have electronically operated door handles, testing showed they could still be opened from both inside and outside the vehicle after all crash tests. Euro NCAP noted that the BMW’s high-voltage battery isolated correctly after impacts, while the Zeekr dropped points because its TPS eCall functionality fell short of a maximum score.