Australia’s safest? New BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT EVs become first vehicles to earn five stars under toughest-ever NCAP tests
Australia’s newest safety benchmark is electric, with the incoming BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT becoming the first vehicles to achieve five-star crash safety ratings under the tougher new 2026 Euro NCAP and ANCAP testing protocols.
The all-electric duo are the first production cars to clear the world’s most demanding independent safety regime, with the BMW iX3 about to arrive in Australian showrooms and the Zeekr 7GT due to follow later this year.
While ANCAP has formally announced the iX3’s corresponding Australian five-star rating, the Zeekr 7GT’s local rating announcement is expected closer to its Australian launch.
READ MORE: Toyota HiLux BEV stars in safety tests: Maximum ANCAP rating confirmed as Subaru Trailseeker and Uncharted EVs also score highly
READ MORE: Affordable ANCAP: Two budget buys and a famous EV name score five stars in the latest safety tests
READ MORE: Leapmotor B10 tops Zeekr 7X and Kia EV4 in latest ANCAP testing: Cheapest EV stars against more expensive opposition
The new protocols, introduced this year by Euro NCAP in co-opreration with ANCAP, place greater emphasis on avoiding crashes in the first place while also expanding testing to include more occupant types, tougher real-world crash scenarios, post-crash emergency response and, for the first time, specific assessments of electric vehicle battery integrity after an impact.
What’s changed for 2026?
| Previous ANCAP/Euro NCAP | New 2026 protocol |
|---|---|
| Traditional crash tests | Four “Stages of Safety” |
| Occupant protection focus | Greater emphasis on crash prevention |
| Standard crash dummies | Wider range of occupant sizes |
| Existing AEB tests | Tougher real-world ADAS testing |
| — | EV battery integrity assessment |
| — | Post-crash eCall assessment |
| — | Driver monitoring evaluation |
| — | Motorcycle crash scenarios |
| — | Rollover protection assessment |
Instead of relying solely on traditional crash performance, vehicles are now assessed across four “Stages of Safety” – Safe Driving, Crash Avoidance, Crash Protection and Post Crash Safety – reflecting the complete sequence of preventing a crash, protecting occupants during one and assisting emergency responders afterwards.
Despite facing the same tougher standards, both EVs achieved the maximum five-star overall rating.
Euro NCAP praised the new SUV’s physical controls for key driving functions, highly effective autonomous emergency braking system, excellent side-impact protection and sophisticated post-crash systems, including battery isolation and an eCall emergency response function.
Overall comparison
| Category | BMW iX3 | Zeekr 7GT |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Driving | 73% | 79% |
| Crash Avoidance | 83% | 89% |
| Crash Protection | 86% | 93% |
| Post Crash Safety | 95% | 95% |
| Overall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The BMW iX3 recorded scores of 73 per cent for Safe Driving, 83 per cent for Crash Avoidance, 86 per cent for Crash Protection and 95 per cent for Post Crash Safety.
The Zeekr 7GT actually outperformed the BMW across three of the four assessment categories, scoring 79 per cent for Safe Driving, 89 per cent for Crash Avoidance, 93 per cent for Crash Protection and matching the BMW’s 95 per cent for Post Crash Safety.
Euro NCAP highlighted the 7GT’s advanced driver monitoring, strong structural crash protection and impressive active safety systems, while deducting points because many key vehicle functions are operated through the central touchscreen rather than physical controls.
Why the BMW and Zeekr lost points
| BMW iX3 | Zeekr 7GT |
|---|---|
| No front passenger out-of-position detection | Too many touchscreen controls |
| Doesn’t monitor front-seat seatbelt misuse | Lower speed-sign recognition score |
| Slightly weaker driver distraction monitoring | No TPS eCall service in all markets |
According to Euro NCAP, the revised testing procedures represent its biggest overhaul since 2009, reflecting the rapid evolution of vehicle technology and increasing reliance on advanced driver assistance systems.
Among the biggest changes are tougher assessments of lane-keeping performance, driver monitoring systems, speed assistance accuracy, emergency braking in a wider range of real-world scenarios, motorcycle crash avoidance, rollover protection and post-crash rescue systems.
ANCAP has also added assessments of fuel leakage and, in the case of electric vehicles, battery integrity following a crash.
“The BMW iX3 is the first model we’ve put through this new rating process, and its specification and performance have captured the essence of the new requirements,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Carla Hoorweg.
Euro NCAP Programme Director Dr Aled Williams said the five-star performances of the BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT demonstrated that manufacturers were already adapting to the tougher standards.
“The five-star scores of the BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT show that car makers can produce models that are safe on many levels, from the simple but important inclusion of physical switches and buttons to the way driver aids feel in tune with the driver rather than at odds with them,” he said.
