Thatcham research announces the safest cars and game-changing technologies of 2020

January 07, 2021
Thatcham research announces the safest cars and game-changing technologies of 2020
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Automotive research centre, Thatcham Research, has revealed the five safest cars and the five best technology developments in the automotive world during 2020, forming the shortlists for the respective 2021 What Car? Car of the Year Safety and Technology awards.


The awards recognises the carmakers that have produced the safest cars during 2020 and the shortlist is drawn up based on results from the latest Euro NCAP safety testing. Judges also considered affordability, sales volumes and any additional innovative safety technologies not currently tested by Euro NCAP. The outright winner and two runners-up will be announced next week.

The safest vehicle list is; Honda Jazz, Mazda MX-30, SEAT Leon, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen ID.3. There are also five nominations for the Technology Award shortlist, which have been identified as having the potential to improve both vehicle and driver safety now and into the future.

The first nomination is Android Automotive OS, a new breed of infotainment platform built into cars by car makers. It removes the reliance on potentially distracting touchscreens because the voice-activated Google Assistant is built in. It allows drivers can to download media apps direct to their vehicle, with no mobile device required.

The Ford Kuga Lane-Keeping System with Blind Spot, monitors the driver’s blind spot for vehicles approaching from behind and can apply gentle counter-steering force to warn the driver and discourage a lane change manoeuvre if a potential collision is detected.

Kia’s Blind Spot View Monitor also makes the shortlist. This advanced driver assistance system aims to enhance safety for Sorento occupants and other road users by eliminating a driver’s left- and right-side blind spots. It displays a high-resolution video feed on the dashboard instrument panel when the driver indicates to change lane with another vehicle hidden in their blind spot.

Tesla over-the-air updates have also been praised by the Thatcham panel. This technology wirelessly sends new features to Tesla vehicles that improve functionality, performance and safety. It has been used to make a raft of notable improvements to its vehicles during 2020, including the addition of vision-based speed assist capability, a cabin camera to capture video clips prior to a collision or safety event, dash-cam viewer improvements, and traffic light warnings.

Finally the Volvo Advanced Interior Air Cleaner has been shortlisted. This air purification system removes harmful particulates from a Volvo’s cabin atmosphere to ensure occupants breathe clean and healthy air. Incoming air passes through an ioniser that pre-charges the microscopic particles which then stick to a fibre-based filter that carries an opposite charge. This is the first time a car has had an ioniser inside its air filtration system.
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