Skoda’s new-generation Octavia, which was unveiled last month, has earned the maximum 5-star rating in Euro NCAP’s latest round of crash tests. The Honda Civic-rivalling model is set to come to India sometime in the second half of 2020.
Although the model tested by Euro NCAP was the Octavia with the Combi (estate) body style, the ratings do apply to the sedan derivative as well. In adult occupation protection, the Skoda scored 35.3 points out of 38 – amounting to 92 percent. The cabin was deemed 'stable' in the frontal offset crash test. Additionally, in the side barrier impact test, protection of all critical body areas was deemed 'good' as the Octavia managed to score full points.
As for the child occupant protection, the Octavia was awarded 43.2 points out of 49 points, which comes up to 88 percent. Furthermore, the model secured 35.5 points out of 48 (73 percent) for pedestrian safety and 10.3 points out of 13 (79 percent) for its safety assist systems.
In its latest round of crash tests, the Euro NCAP also tested models like the India-bound Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model X. In October this year, the Global NCAP crash-tested four Indian-made cars – the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Wagon R, the Hyundai Santro, and the Datsun Redigo – under its #SaferCarsForIndia campaign.