Euro Niro Safety Rating

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AlanHo
Posts: 113
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 10:05 pm

Post by AlanHo »

5 stars with ADAP
4 stars without it.

If your car has ADAP make sure your car insurers are made aware and get a reduced premium.

http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/kia/niro/25042
Currently Sept 2021 Niro 3 HEV in Ocean Blue

Pippy. Polo
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2017 5:29 pm

Post by Pippy. Polo »

I told my insurance that it had it as it's a trim 4 however thay had never heard of adap :!: and it's a Standard on that model
Topicalcat
Posts: 49
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 12:43 pm

Post by Topicalcat »

Group ratings for cars are assigned by Thatcham, the insurers research centre at would you believe it Thatcham near Newbury. The ‘4’ has an insurance group rating of 12, the ‘3’ has a group rating of 14 so the advisary group ratings compiled by Thatcham do reflect the benefits of autonomous braking, so your ‘4’ should be cheaper to insure than a ‘3’. The ‘1’, ‘2’ & ‘4’ are group 12, the ‘3’ is 14 and the PHEV is 13. The group ratings are an evaluation of repair costs and performance and other factors as explained here,
https://www.thatcham.org/myvehicle/search

Thatcham Research is the motor insurers’ automotive research centre. Established by the motor insurance industry in 1969, the centre’s main aim is to contain or reduce the cost of motor insurance claims whilst maintaining safety standards. They have the technical expertise and facilities to assess cars, I had an interesting visit many years ago.

They are given new cars by manufacturers ahead of launch so they can take cars apart and work out repair costs, they evaulate safety features. They need to get their hands on new cars before they go on sale so they can assess the group ratings. Presumably the ‘3’ is higher rated because it is more expensive than the ‘1’ or ‘2’ and yet lacks the safety feature of AEB featured in the ‘4’ The PHEV is somewhere in between because whilst it is probably safer than a ‘3’ it is more complex and expensive to repair following an accident.

Whilst Individual insurers are not bound to follow these group ratings they usually do but if yours does not, get another quote, ask them what group rating they have allocated to your Niro. The group rating is something to consider when deciding what level trim you go for as it is an ongoing annual cost. Suggests a ‘3’ will involve higher life time insurance premiums than other models,

The poor soul you spoke to at your insurers does not need to understand every nuance of car safety or be a petrol head. You tell him your reg number, his computer tells him it is a level 4 trim with AEB and voila your car is group 12, easy peasey painting by numbers, no car knowledge required.

* Retired employee of a major insurer and looking to buy a Niro
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niroal
Posts: 183
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2017 11:22 am
Location: North Kent

Post by niroal »

There is some talk of this changing especially with optional equipment as insurers are finding optional radars & upgraded lights for instance increase repair costs for small knocks so may consider loading premiums for cars with options. It is a bit of a merry go round.
Niro 3 PHEV Graphite
Topicalcat
Posts: 49
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 12:43 pm

Post by Topicalcat »

Yes tricky, Thatcham has been keen on promoting safety features like these. Reduces the risk of a shunt and injury claims, however if someone hits you in a car park and clears off the repair bill goes up as cars get more compicated.

Thatcham can but evaulate a car as it is presented. It will take time to evaulate the actual accident claims cost of any new model depending on their being enough cars on the road to make a meaningful sample and therefore enough data to confirm whether Thatcham got it right.

When people first started fitting winter tyres some insurers actually increased the premium! Now most insurers subscribe to the ABI agreement which recognises that winter tyres in winter are safer than summer tyres, hence no increase in premiums .

We shall see.
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