Renault’s New Clio and Alpine A390 Secure Four-Star Ratings
The latest round of Euro NCAP safety assessments has delivered some unexpected results, with two high-profile models from the Renault Group failing to achieve the top five-star rating. The all-new Renault Clio 6 and the sporty Alpine A390 both received four-star scores, a rating that places them behind key competitors in the increasingly competitive safety landscape.
Behind the Four-Star Rating
While a four-star rating still indicates a good level of occupant protection, it often highlights specific areas where a vehicle does not meet the highest contemporary standards. For new models launching in 2024 and beyond, the expectation from safety advocates and consumers alike is increasingly for top marks. The results suggest potential compromises in areas such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), pedestrian protection, or cabin safety for rear-seat passengers. Euro NCAP’s protocols are updated regularly, making it more challenging for manufacturers to achieve the highest accolade without comprehensive standard safety technology.
Implications for the Brand and Consumers
This outcome is particularly notable for the Renault Clio, a perennial best-seller in Europe’s supermini segment. The previous generation Clio achieved a five-star rating, making this a step back in published safety credentials. For the Alpine brand, which is positioning itself as a premium performance marque, a top safety rating is often seen as a non-negotiable pillar of modern luxury and engineering excellence. These ratings provide crucial, independent data for consumers, highlighting that a vehicle’s overall package may involve trade-offs even in critical areas like safety.
The automotive industry is in a period of intense focus on safety innovation, with features like advanced automatic emergency braking and robust child occupant protection becoming standard expectations. These Euro NCAP results serve as a reminder that continuous improvement is essential, and that historic brand strength does not automatically translate into class-leading safety with each new model iteration.