New Audi Q3 Scores a 5-Star Euro NCAP Safety Rating Thanks to Strong Protection Levels In Several Key Categories

The redesigned Audi Q3 is the most advanced Q3 ever. Audi is positioning the Q3 as your dynamic driving partner and digital companion. With a revised suspension, advanced lighting, and more efficient engines, the Q3 seems well-suited for that job. But perhaps even more importantly, the new Q3 will keep you and your family safe. The small SUV just aced the Euro NCAP safety tests with a stellar 5-star rating.

For those not familiar with Euro NCAP, they introduced their overall safety rating back in 2009. Each vehicle is graded in four key areas. Adult occupant protection (driver and passenger), child occupant protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist features.

The Q3 scored an 87 percent in the adult occupant test. The vehicle scored well in the frontal impact, lateral impact, rear impact and rescue/extrication categories. “The passenger compartment of the Audi Q3 remained stable in the frontal offset test. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both the driver and the front seat passenger,” reports Euro NCAP. The only area where the Q3 didn’t score well was in a side impact it is possible that the center airbag might not prevent head-to-head contact between the front seat occupants.

Child occupant protection was scored an 86 percent. In the tests that mimic 6-year-old and 10-year-old children, the Q3 scored an impressive 23.5 out of a possible 24 points. The Q3 lost points because the second row center seat doesn’t have some safety features available such as Isofix.

The pedestrian protection or vulnerable road users score was an 80 percent. “Protection of the head of a struck pedestrian or cyclist was largely good or adequate, with poor results recorded on the stiff windscreen pillars and at the base and top of the screen. Protection of the pelvis was mostly good,” read the report.

In the safety assist category, the Q3 scored a 78 percent. The Euro NCAP summed up the Q3’s performance in this category by reporting “Overall, the performance of the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system was good in tests of its reaction to other vehicles.  A seatbelt reminder system is fitted as standard to the front and rear seats.  The car has an indirect driver status monitoring system as standard, detecting driver fatigue but not distraction.  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.  The speed assistance system identifies the local speed limit.  The driver can choose to allow the limiter to be set automatically by the system.”

Generally speaking, the new Audi Q3 seems to be a very safe vehicle for occupants as well as pedestrians. If you wish to see video of the crash tests of the Q3, click HERE.