New Porsche Macan Earns Top 5-Star Rating in Euro NCAP

The new Porsche Macan has achieved the highest rating of 5 stars in the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). This result demonstrates that the new Macan scored highly across all test categories. Porsche continuously develops and tests new driver assistance systems to ensure exceptional vehicle safety, with performance far exceeding legal requirements.

The new Macan is Porsche’s first fully electric 4-door sports car. Euro NCAP revises its testing criteria every 2 to 3 years, steadily raising standards, and the new Macan has proven itself as one of the safest cars among 2024 models.

About 150 developers, engineers, and testers were involved in the development and integration of the new Macan’s safety assistance systems, a process that took approximately three years.

Advanced Safety Systems Beyond Legal Requirements

Björn Kern, Porsche’s expert in active safety systems, states, “In developing these systems, Porsche always optimizes safety well beyond the minimum legal requirements.”

For example, the new Macan’s emergency brake assist processes data from the front camera, center radar, and front corner radars. While the legal minimum requires only a front camera, combining radar and camera expands the field of view and significantly broadens the operational range.

Thanks to this advanced system, the new Macan can avoid complex hazards such as pedestrians appearing from blind spots or in darkness, and dangerous situations like turning at intersections.

Substantial Protection from Emergency Brake Assist and Exit Warning System

Kern explains, “The biggest challenge is building trust in the system. Drivers often only notice it when a critical situation is imminent and almost too late.”

The escalation strategy of the driver assistance system first issues warnings while the driver can still react. If the driver does not intervene, the assistant automatically applies the brakes to reduce or completely avoid the impact of a collision.

Euro NCAP praised the performance of the automatic emergency braking system (AEB), noting it performed well in response tests with other vehicles and avoided collisions in several scenarios. The system’s protection of pedestrians and cyclists was particularly highly rated.

Lane departure warning and lane change assist also significantly enhance safety. Working together, these two systems improve safety especially on highways. A new feature is the exit warning system, which visually alerts the driver to road users approaching from behind at every exit. For example, if there is a risk of collision with a cyclist, the system delays door opening to minimize danger.

Fatigue and distraction are also common causes of accidents. The rest recommendation system suggests breaks when signs of driver fatigue appear, based on analysis of driving behavior and lane keeping. In the future, in-cabin camera systems will detect microsleep and visual distractions, further improving safety. However, it is important to remember that despite innovative driver assistance systems, ultimate responsibility lies with the driver.

Rigorous Evaluation Process of Euro NCAP Tests

Euro NCAP tests evaluate vehicles over approximately 6 to 8 weeks on test tracks, in laboratories, and on public roads. Of the six test vehicles, four are destroyed in crash tests. Safety assistance systems are assessed through highly precise robot-assisted driving tests. The new Macan achieved an impressive score of 78% in this area. Euro NCAP rated vulnerable road user protection at 83%, and occupant and child protection at 90% each.

Safety Performance Comparison: Porsche Taycan and Tesla Models

While the new Macan’s high rating is noteworthy, the safety performance of other electric vehicles should not be overlooked.

The Porsche Taycan earned 5 stars in the 2019 Euro NCAP test. It showed strong protection with 85% for adult occupants and 83% for child occupants, while pedestrian protection was 70% and safety assistance systems scored 73%, somewhat lower.

Tesla models have consistently received high ratings. The Model 3 (tested in 2019) scored 96% for adult occupant protection and 94% for safety assistance systems, an exceptionally high score. The Model Y (tested in 2022) achieved 97% for adult occupant protection and 98% for safety assistance systems, the highest overall score among all Euro NCAP tested vehicles. The Model S (2022 test) also showed excellent results with 94% for adult occupant protection and 98% for safety assistance systems.

Notably, Tesla’s camera-based system called “Tesla Vision” achieved high safety assistance scores, suggesting that Tesla’s camera-only approach is effective for ensuring safety.

The Model X (2019 test) also recorded high scores with 98% for adult occupant protection and 94% for safety assistance systems. Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham Research and a Euro NCAP board member, commented, “The Model X is one of the safest cars this year.”

Positioning of the New Macan’s Safety Performance

Comparing these results shows that the new Macan’s safety performance is at a very high level. It achieves scores comparable to Tesla models in occupant and pedestrian protection. While its safety assistance system score of 78% does not reach the top 98% scored by Tesla Model Y and S, it remains an impressive figure.

The new Porsche Macan combines sports car driving performance with the latest safety technologies to deliver high safety standards. Clearing Euro NCAP’s stringent criteria and earning 5 stars reflects Porsche’s commitment to safety technology.

As electric vehicle safety improves overall, the new Macan stands out as an attractive car that balances Porsche’s signature driving enjoyment with high safety. Porsche owners can feel confident about the Macan’s safety.

Looking ahead, Porsche will continue developing advanced safety systems that exceed legal requirements, striving to create safer and more comfortable cars. The success of the new Macan marks an important step showcasing Porsche’s technical expertise and dedication to safety.