Drivers may love the promise of hands-free, mind-at-ease driving, but not all advanced driver assistance systems are created equal. Tesla has long marketed its vehicles as tech-forward and autonomous-ready, but fresh data from Euro NCAP tells a different story, especially when it comes to how clearly the system communicates with drivers.

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The Model S earned just 30% in Assistance Competence, a category where even smaller and more affordable EVs outperformed it. For comparison, the Kia EV3 scored 74% and the Renault 5 managed 73%. Both vehicles cost significantly less and make fewer promises about automation.

Euro NCAP’s Assisted Driving Grading program is built to evaluate how safely and responsibly automakers implement partially automated features. The scoring system weighs two key areas: Assistance Competence, which looks at how well the system communicates with the driver, and Safety Backup, which assesses how the car handles actual safety interventions, such as collision avoidance.

In the most recent round of testing, both the Tesla Model S and the Volvo EX30 received a “Moderate” rating, an underwhelming result for two companies that lean heavily on safety and tech in their marketing.

Tesla’s Language Problem

Tesla’s latest Autopilot system in the Model S did deliver a strong 94% score for Safety Backup, but its poor Assistance Competence score pulled the overall rating down. Euro NCAP cited the misleading “Autopilot” branding and promotional language, which they say overstates the system’s capabilities and can mislead drivers into overestimating how autonomous the system really is.

“Tesla is misleading consumers about their Autopilot system’s capabilities simply through its name and marketing, which could have potential safety implications,” said the organization. “A well-designed system will co-operate with the driver, appropriately inform about the level of assistance, and ultimately offer crash avoidance in critical situations; otherwise, it may introduce additional risks.”

Another problem noted by the testers is that the steering input of the Model S is resistant to a driver attempting to override it, and when they do, it automatically disengages.

“The name ‘Autopilot’ of Tesla’s system, as well as its promotional material, all suggest full automation, which is deemed inappropriate by Euro NCAP and led to a downgrade in their score,” said Euro NCAP. “Additionally, unlike the Porsche, its steering input is resistant to a driver attempting to override it, and when the driver does, the system automatically disengages, limiting its usefulness.”

EuroNCAP

As for the Pilot Assist system fitted on the Volvo EX30, it scored 72% for Safety Backup and 62% for Assistance Competence. The main reason for the relatively low scores is that the driver has to take their eyes off the road in order to check the system alerts on the centrally mounted touchscreen. Furthermore, the driving assistance systems were found not to disengage, even after repeated hands-off alerts.

Other vehicles in this round had mixed showings. The MG ZS also landed in the “Moderate” category, while the Mazda CX-80 and the Chinese XPeng G9 fared better with “Good” ratings.

The Pleasant Surprises

More encouraging results came from four models that earned a “Very Good” rating. The Porsche Macan’s, using its InnoDrive system with Active Lane Keeping, scored 92% for Safety Backup and 85% for Assistance Competence, the highest in this round. Euro NCAP praised the clarity of its status displays and the transparency of its promotional materials.

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Other good performers with intuitive systems included the facelifted Toyota bZ4X crossover and the Kia EV3 small SUV. Finally, the Active Driver Assist package of the Renault 5 electric supermini impressed Euro NCAP’s testers, who praised it for “demonstrating how assisted driving systems can perform just as well on more affordable cars”.

Adriano Palao, ADAS Technical Manager at Euro NCAP, said: “The safe operation of Assisted Driving systems can only be achieved if consumers clearly understand their role as drivers, know how to operate the system, and are aware of its limitation…A well-designed system will cooperate with the driver, appropriately inform about the level of assistance, and ultimately offer crash avoidance in critical situations; otherwise, it may introduce additional risks.”

Below you can find the scores of all nine models that participated in this testing phase.

EURO NCAP ASSISTED DRIVING 2025 TEST RATINGS

Back in April, Renault gave us a bit of a price shocker when they announced that their widebody, all-electric R5 Turbo 3E, a tribute to the iconic 5 Turbo, would set buyers back an astonishing €155,000 (a little over $175,000 at current exchange rates). Naturally, many scoffed at the idea of an electric hot hatch costing more than a new Porsche 911 GTS, but as it turns out, demand for the car is, well, shockingly strong.

Read: Renault 5 Turbo 3E Is An Electric Hyper Hatch With Over 500 HP

At their recent Annual General Meeting in France, Renault shared some interesting news: within just one week of the R5 Turbo 3E’s launch, they had secured an impressive 850 orders for the 1,980 units they plan to produce worldwide. What makes this even more noteworthy is that these allocations aren’t as simple as a quick call to your local Renault dealer. Securing one of these hyper hatches is a bit more complicated – and a lot more costly than you might think.

A Hefty Deposit for a Hefty Price Tag

To get in line for the R5 Turbo 3E, prospective buyers need to fork over a non-refundable deposit of €45,000 (around $51,000). This means Renault has already pocketed a cool €38.25 million ($43.2 million) in deposits. The company has confirmed that these funds will help complete the development of the hot new EV, so it’s not just the customers who are investing in this electric dream.

Just a few days after Renault first announced that order books for the car would open, company boss Fabrice Cambolive took to LinkedIn to confirm that 500 customer reservations had already been placed alongside an additional 200 from its dealers. Evidently, there are more people out there willing to spend an extraordinary amount of money on an exciting Renault.

Impressive Specs for a Pricey Package

The R5 Turbo 3E is based around a carbon fiber monocoque with two in-wheel motors out back. Together, they churn out a combined 540 horsepower, propelling the sub-compact car to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.5 seconds.

Under the hood, the 70 kWh battery pack and 800-volt electrical architecture should give the car a range of over 250 miles (400 km). And, if you’re in a hurry, a quick 15-minute charge can take the battery from 15% to 80%. So, while it may cost an arm and a leg, at least you’ll be getting some serious performance in return.

Nissan has several projects in the pipeline right now, and one of the more interesting ones is the fully electric Micra. A camouflaged prototype of the small hatchback was spotted testing ahead of its European market launch in 2026. The Micra will be manufactured by Renault, sharing its underpinnings with the upcoming R5 E-Tech.

More: Renault 5 Turbo 3E Is A 535-HP Supercar Disguised As A Hot Hatch

While we’ve seen glimpses of the new Micra’s exterior design in official teasers over the past few years, the spy shots are our first real look at the model. The proportions, roof structure, and overall greenhouse seem to mirror the Renault version, but the bodywork has been completely reworked.

Design Influences and Unique Features

The round headlights of the Nissan Micra are similar to those on the Mini Cooper, which also has an electric variant. However, Nissan has thankfully put its own spin on things like body-colored inserts and a grille-less front end. The bumper features a single cooling intake, and it looks like the black accents from the teaser images are actually fully blocked off.

Other interesting design touches include the round LED taillights, hidden rear door handles, and futuristic four-spoke alloy wheels. The sub-4m long, five-door hatchback will also feature glossy black cladding around the wheel arches, keeping in line with the current trends in automotive design.

Powertrain and Battery

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The Nissan Micra will ride on the AmpR Small platform, already used by the Renault 5 E-Tech and the Alpine A290 hot hatch. It’s expected to offer a choice between 40 kWh and 52 kWh battery packs, with the larger pack providing a range of over 400 km (250 miles).

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In terms of power, the Micra could mirror the Renault 5’s options, with a single electric motor producing 94 hp (70 kW / 95 PS), 121 hp (90 kW / 122 PS), or 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS). A future performance version of the Micra, partly inspired by the extreme Nissan Concept 20-23, might even borrow the 217 hp (160 kW / 220 PS) motor from the Alpine, though Nissan’s financial situation might put a damper on that idea, as a low-volume hot hatch would require a substantial investment.

Pricing and Availability

Given the Renault 5 E-Tech’s pricing, we can expect the electric Nissan Micra to start at around €25,000 (about $28,200 at current exchange rates) when it launches in Europe next year. Beyond the Micra, Nissan has more electric offerings in the pipeline for Europe, including a zero-emission version of the Juke and a new-generation Leaf crossover. There are also reports that the company is developing an even smaller and more affordable urban EV, based on the upcoming Renault Twingo E-Tech.

Nissan