The New Land Rover Defender Has Been Awarded A 5 Star NCAP Safety Rating

Despite it not being long since the incredible reborn icon reached showrooms nationwide, the 2020 Defender has already been awarded a multitude of accolades. The latest includes an impressive solid five-star safety rating, after a multitude of rigorous Euro NCAP crash tests.

What’s the Euro NCAP?

The European New Car Assessment Programme is an independent European car safety performance assessment programme. The Euro NCAP is designed to put a car through its paces, so that drivers may choose a car safe for them and their family, with assistance features that have been impartially tried and tested.

Focused on four key areas, the Euro NCAP report gathers an overall safety rating from various crash and safety tests performed on the car in question. The 2020 Land Rover Defender endured several crash scenarios - frontal, rear and side tests.

The new Defender survived thorough crash testing, using dummies linked-up to provide impact readings, for analysis on both Adult Occupant Protection and Child Occupant Protection respectively.

The reborn Defender also underwent Vulnerable Road User safety tests, such as detecting and stopping for unexpected pedestrians and cyclists.

In addition, the Land Rover Defender’s Safety Assistance features were assessed, such autobraking and Lane Assist.

The Results:

Land Rover’s most capable and durable model ever was awarded the maximum five-star rating in the latest round of test results.

The Defender combines state-of-the-art assisting technologies with an ultra-stiff aluminium-intensive body construction, engineered to cope with rugged landscapes.

With clever safety technologies available on Defender, such as Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist and Rear Collision Monitor, it was able to sail through the examination.

Six airbags are designed to protect the driver and passengers, while up to three ISOFIX mounting points are available.

The new Defender scored 85 per cent for Adult and Child Occupant protection, 79 per cent for Safety Assist and achieved a 71 per cent score for Vulnerable Road Users on its way to claiming a five-star rating.

JLR’s Executive Director of Product Engineering, Nick Rogers, commented: ‘From the moment we started creating the New Defender, we were obsessed with functional safety and the protection of both the occupants and other road users.

‘We set out to make a vehicle that is the most capable and durable Land Rover ever made, with safety features that truly enhance the driver’s experience.

‘It’s an incredible honour to receive this recognition from Euro NCAP who have endorsed our New Defender with their five-star rating.’

The extensive range of advanced Driver Assistance technologies available on new 2020 Defender include:

Emergency Braking

Designed to detect if a potential frontal collision with another vehicle may occur and display a forward alert to warn the driver to brake. If the driver doesn't respond, the vehicle will deploy emergency braking to reduce the severity of the possible impact.

Blind Spot Assist

A flashing icon in the appropriate wing mirror helps alert the driver to obstacles in, or quickly approaching, your blind spot.

3D Surround Camera

Assists the driver during low-speed manoeuvres using advanced camera technology to provide a 3D view of Defender in its environment on the central Pivi Pro display.

Clear Exit Monitor

Helps warn of a possible threat when preparing to open any door from the inside using sensors in the bumper to monitor approaching traffic.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front. If the vehicle ahead stops, the technology will bring the vehicle to a smooth halt.

Driver Condition Monitor

Designed to sense driver fatigue by monitoring steering, brake and accelerator inputs to provide alerts when tiredness is detected.

Lane Keep Assist

Helps to detect unintentional lane drift and applies corrective counter-steering to maintain lane position.

Rear Collision Monitor

If a vehicle approaching from behind is not slowing down, the vehicle will attempt to alert the approaching driver by automatically flashing the hazard lights.

Rear Traffic Monitor

Designed to warn of vehicles, pedestrians or other hazards approaching from either side – particularly useful when reversing out of a parking bay.

Traffic Sign Recognition and Adaptive Speed Limiter

Informs the driver of the current speed limit and adjusts the vehicle speed when entering new speed limit zones automatically.

Wade Sensing

Ultrasonic sensors in the door mirrors provide real-time information about the water depth when wading.

eCall+

System is designed to send an automatic message to an emergency call centre in case of a crash or collision, which includes additional location information and the number of seat belts in use.

Multi Collision Brake

Automatically applies the brakes to prevent or mitigate a subsequent impact when the vehicle has been involved in a collision of sufficient severity.

The Defender ensures the best safety is afforded to its driver and their family, whilst also being capable of enduring the harshest weather and road conditions.

Watch how the new Land Rover Defender performed during its 2020 Euro NCAP Crash and Safety tests: