BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT Set New Safety Standard, but Chinese EV Takes the Crown

The BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT have become the first two vehicles to earn five-star safety ratings under Euro NCAP’s toughest-ever testing overhaul, the biggest scoring shake-up in over a decade. And while many expected the German luxury SUV to lead the pack, it was the Chinese newcomer that quietly pulled ahead by a nose.

Euro NCAP’s revamped process runs vehicles through four stages: Safe Driving, Crash Avoidance, Crash Protection, and Post Crash Safety. In the first stage, the iX3 scored 73 percent, praised for its abundance of physical controls, a capable driver-monitoring system, and sharp speed-limit recognition.

During 2,000 kilometers of real-world testing across Italy, France, Germany, and Austria, the BMW’s speed limit assist correctly identified signage changes 86 percent of the time, covering 97 percent of the driven distance. However, Euro NCAP noted the driver monitoring system was less sensitive to brief visual distraction and couldn’t detect an out-of-position front passenger or improper seatbelt use.

The Zeekr 7GT outperformed the BMW in Safe Driving with a 79 percent score, thanks to a more sophisticated driver monitoring system and sensors that catch incorrect lap-only seatbelt use. It also came equipped with a manual front passenger airbag cutoff switch for rear-facing child seats and a child presence detection system that alerts bystanders if a child is left behind.

Its speed sign recognition lagged, reading limits correctly only 79 percent of the time, and its vehicle controls lost points because many functions are buried in the infotainment screen. In Crash Avoidance, the iX3 earned 83 percent while the Zeekr stretched ahead to 89 percent, driven by near-flawless autonomous emergency braking and a door-opening prevention system that warns occupants before they open a door into an oncoming cyclist.

Both cars held up well in Crash Protection. The iX3 scored 86 percent with maximum points in side-impact tests, but only achieved good or adequate protection in frontal offset testing and lost points on a marginal driver chest score in the full-width test. The Zeekr again came out ahead with 93 percent and maximum points across side mobile barrier, side pole, and far-side occupant impacts.

In Post Crash Safety, both scored 95 percent. Electronically operated door handles on both cars could still be opened from inside and outside after all crash tests. Euro NCAP noted the BMW’s high-voltage battery isolated correctly after impacts, while the Zeekr lost a fraction of a point because its TPS eCall function fell just short of a maximum score.