Tesla’s Model X achieves 5-star crash rating in all categories, first in its class to do so
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded Model X a 5-star safety rating in every category and sub-category, making it the first SUV ever to earn the 5-star rating across the board, Tesla says.
The data from NHTSA’s testing shows that Model X has the lowest probability of injury of any SUV it has ever tested, being second only to Model S.
Among the nine subcategories rated by NHTSA, including frontal impact, side impact, and pole impact tests conducted on both the driver and passenger side as well as the rollover test, Model X achieved 5-stars in every category and sub-category. That means that in the event of a serious crash, Model X occupants have an overall 93% probability of walking away without a serious injury.
loading...
Tesla says Model X performs better in a crash than gas-powered SUVs because of its all-electric architecture and powertrain design. According to the car company, the rigid, fortified battery pack that powers Model X is mounted beneath the floor of the vehicle creating a center of gravity so low that Model X has the lowest rollover probability of any SUV on the road. No other SUV has ever come close to meeting and exceeding this rollover requirement, the company says.
NHTSA’s tests assess both the structure of the vehicle, which must minimise intrusion into the cabin and absorb as much energy as possible, and also the seatbelt and airbag restraint system, which must maximise injury mitigation in the event of a crash.
Loading...