Safety Shock: Volkswagen T-Cross and Dongfeng Box Flunk Euro NCAP Crash Tests
When Europe’s most respected crash tests hand out just three stars, it’s not a technicality—it’s a wake-up call. Both the Chinese Dongfeng Box and Volkswagen’s compact SUV T-Cross have failed to meet the safety expectations of the modern market.
In its latest round of assessments, Euro NCAP put the spotlight on the Chinese electric liftback Dongfeng Box, which displayed alarmingly poor structural integrity. During the offset frontal crash test, several weld points tore apart, raising serious concerns among experts about how the car might behave in a more severe collision. What counts as a structural warning in a controlled lab test could easily turn fatal in real-world traffic.
Dongfeng’s troubles didn’t stop with metal fatigue. The driver’s airbag failed to deploy with adequate pressure, causing the dummy’s head to strike the steering wheel—sensors recorded a dangerously high impact. Even more worrying, the doors failed to unlock automatically after the crash, a flaw that in real life could mean a critical delay in rescue efforts. Testers also noted a heightened risk of leg injuries, as lower dashboard elements intruded too far into the cabin.
Despite these failings, the Dongfeng Box wasn’t left completely unscored. It managed three out of five stars—an outcome that, by today’s Euro NCAP standards, effectively counts as a failure. Adult occupant protection was rated at 69 percent, child safety at 81 percent, and pedestrian protection at 67 percent. Its driver assistance systems earned a 77-percent score, insufficient to redeem its overall safety standing.
Volkswagen’s representative didn’t fare much better. The T-Cross, often marketed as a smart, affordable city SUV, also walked away with only three stars. It scored 74 percent for adult protection and 81 percent for child safety, but just 60 percent for pedestrian safety and a meagre 57 percent for assist systems—numbers that leave little room for excuses. In this case, affordability clearly came at the expense of safety.
Euro NCAP’s tests are tough but fair. They spare no brand, whether it’s a storied German manufacturer or an ambitious newcomer from China. In today’s automotive landscape, a three-star result isn’t just a low score—it’s a mark of shame, one that won’t be easily wiped away.
