Euro NCAP has been a pioneer in defining safety standards for cars, and it has issued some updates to its testing protocols, which will come into effect from 2026. Under the new rating scheme, cars without physical controls for key functions will find it harder, but not impossible, to earn a 5-star safety rating.
- Physical buttons for horn, indicators, hazard lights and wipers to account for higher scores.
- A 5-star safety rating is still manageable without such controls.
- New protocols also bring a stronger focus on active safety features.
Physical controls for essential safety features
As mentioned earlier, Euro NCAP, from January 2026, will be enforcing new testing norms, and amongst the important changes, Euro NCAP has also suggested offering physical buttons for horn, indicators, hazard lights, wipers and SOS, to fetch a higher safety score alongside the coveted 5-star rating.
In recent years, many carmakers have moved toward minimalist cabin designs that replace physical switches with touch-based controls to create a cleaner look and appeal to younger buyers. While this approach can lower manufacturing costs, it also reduces the tactile feedback drivers rely on and can increase distraction, as touchscreens often require drivers to look away from the road to operate them. Euro NCAP has finally identified this as a safety concern.
While a 5-star Euro NCAP rating will not depend solely on physical controls, including them can help cars achieve higher scores, which many manufacturers aim for.For context, Euro NCAP evaluates a car’s safety based on four main criteria: Safe Driving, Crash Avoidance, Crash Protection, and Post-Crash. The Safe Driving category, which houses ‘driver controls’, covers the following areas:
| Euro NCAP ‘Safe Driving’ criteria | |
|---|---|
| Occupant seatbelt usage | 10 points |
| Occupant classification | 10 points |
| Occupant presence | 10 points |
| Driver monitoring | 25 points |
| Driver controls | 5 points |
| Vehicle speed assistance | 20 points |
| ACC (active cruise control) performance | 15 points |
| Steering assistance | 5 points |
To begin with, in 2026, only 60 percent of the ‘safe driving’ criteria need to be met, meaning that achieving a 5-star safety rating will still be possible without physical controls. This threshold will rise to 70 percent in 2027 and reach 80 percent in 2028 to make it easier for carmakers to adapt to the changes.
Will physical controls make a comeback?
This could essentially mark a comeback for physical controls in cars, which is always a welcome move. Earlier this year, carmakers like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz reported their plans to bring back physical controls in their cars, and more carmakers are expected to make a similar move to increase their chances of earning a higher Euro NCAP safety score.
Other changes
Beyond physical controls, the new Euro NCAP norms will place a stronger focus on active safety features. Driver-monitoring systems will now contribute up to 25 points from the current two points. The safety systems will now also be required to track the driver’s eye and head movements, detect drowsiness, and issue timely alerts to prevent accidents for higher scores.
Not just this, but the new standards place greater emphasis on how vehicles protect passengers in real time. Safety systems must now monitor who is sitting in each seat and how they are positioned, then automatically adjust key safety features such as airbag deployment, seatbelt tension, and posture alerts.