Tesla Model X 'to receive five-star safety rating in US'
Crash-test video from safety regulator shows car protecting passengers in a side-impact
Tesla's Model X electric SUV is expected to to receive "five-star ratings in every single safety category" in the US, according to Electrek.
Crash-test footage shows the car's large curtain airbags and strong body panelling appearing to do an admirable job in protecting passengers during a side-impact collision, although there is no indication of how fast the SUV was going.
The US-based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has yet to officially reveal the Tesla's safety rating, but Electrek says this "shouldn't be too far behind" the release of the crash footage.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Teslarati says the Model X "boasts spacious front and rear crumple zones that absorb crash energy", a similar system found on the Tesla Model S saloon.
Despite having a higher roofline than the Model S, the SUV's floor-mounted batteries keep its "centre of gravity extremely low to the ground", adds the site. As there's not much weight high up in the car's structure, the chance of rolling over is "near impossible".
Euro Ncap, the European safety regulator, has also to provide a score for the Model X, but it awarded the Model S saloon a full five-star rating in 2014, saying excelled in adult and child occupant protection, although it scored a 66 per cent safety rating for pedestrians struck by the car.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Icelandic women’s strike 50 years onIn The Spotlight The nation is ‘still no paradise’ for women, say campaigners
-
Mall World: why are people dreaming about a shopping centre?Under The Radar Thousands of strangers are dreaming about the same thing and no one sure why
-
Why scientists are attempting nuclear fusionThe Explainer Harnessing the reaction that powers the stars could offer a potentially unlimited source of carbon-free energy, and the race is hotting up
-
Are plug-in hybrids better for America's climate goals?Talking Points The car industry considers a 'slower, but more plausible path' to reducing emissions
-
EV market slowdown: a bump in the road for Tesla?Talking Points The electric vehicle market has stalled – with worrying consequences for carmakers
-
The week's good news: Dec. 14, 2023Feature It wasn't all bad!
-
MG4 EV XPower review: what the car critics sayFeature The XPower just 'isn't as much fun' as a regular MG4
-
Volkswagen ID.5 review: what the car critics sayFeature The ID.4's 'sportier, more stylish twin' – but 'don't believe the hype'
-
BMW iX1 review: what the car critics sayThe Week Recommends BMW’s smallest electric crossover has ‘precise’ steering and a ‘smart interior’
-
2023 Peugeot e-2008 review: what the car critics sayThe Week Recommends This small electric crossover has a ‘sophisticated feel’ and a bigger battery than the original
-
Lotus Eletre review: what the car critics sayThe Week Recommends All-electric hyper SUV is not just entertaining to drive – it’s also ‘extraordinarily well made’