Newly released gradings on assisted driving tech indicate OEMs are accurately describing their semi-autonomous technologies and not over-selling their capabilities.

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Run by Euro NCAP and Thatcham Research, the gradings are now in their second year and tested seven cars from mainstream vehicle manufacturers, showing encouraging results.

Last year’s grades prompted Thatcham Research to raise concerns that some carmakers were overselling the supposed self-driving capability of their technology and creating potentially dangerous confusion. It highlighted the naming, marketing and performance of Tesla’s ‘Autopilot’ system as a concern.

But the 2021 assessments saw all seven cars tested, including five electric vehicles, display competent assisted driving system support and Thatcham said it showed the OEMs were getting both the implementation and marketing of their assisted tech right.

Each car was evaluated and rated for the level of assistance, level of driver engagement and effectiveness of the safety back-up offered by their assisted driving systems.

BMW’s iX3 emerged as the top performer across all three rating criteria, scoring 169 points (out of a possible 200) and earning a ‘very good’ grading, while the Ford Mustang Mach-E (152 points) and Cupra Formentor (144 points) both secured a ‘good’ grading.

The all-electric Polestar 2 (135 points) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (126 points) earned a ‘moderate’ grading, while the less expensive Toyota Yaris (109 points) and Vauxhall Mokka-e (101 points) were both handed an ‘entry’ grading for the “solid core performance” of their assisted driving technology and applauded for having the technology on volume-selling cars.

Thatcham Research said this year’s assessments showed that the capability of all the cars tested was being described correctly and consumers are not being led to believe they are driving a car equipped with automated functionality.

Matthew Avery, chief strategic research officer, remarked: “All seven cars we’ve just tested are clearly marketed as having ‘driver assistance’ functions, not ‘automated’. These systems are engineered to involve and support the driver in a very cooperative manner. They’re certainly not trying to offer automation, where the driving task can be relinquished to the vehicle, and we strongly believe that’s the right thing to do.”

Avery added that the fact that five of the seven cars tested were full EVs was also positive and showed the newest cars in this growing sector are being equipped with assisted driving tech that brings benefits to drivers.

Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, also welcomed the latest round of tests, which he said indicated that the manufacturers represented are making clear the level of support that their technology can provide.

“This balance between assistance and engagement is crucial. Cars are not yet capable of fully automated driving and drivers should not be misled into thinking that they are. Reports from America have highlighted the very serious problems that can happen when people have an unrealistically high expectation of what such systems can offer, and when the car in which they are driving does not actively try to get them back in the loop.”

The results have been published just days after the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) published a set of guiding principles for responsible advertising and communication relating to automated vehicles and their capabilities.

Thatcham is also working with UK government organisation Zenzic on a safety rating scheme for automated driving systems. It’s intended to become the benchmark for a global independent rating scheme for such technology, with a view to driving best practice and reassuring consumers that – once the technology is mature enough – it’s safe to hand over control.