Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Hyundai NEXO reliability & safety rating

Don’t worry: despite being fuelled by an infamously flammable gas under extreme pressure, the NEXO is impressively safe in a crash, and absolutely stacked with driver aids to help avoid one

Hyundai NEXO
Overall rating

2.0 out of 5

Reliability & safety rating rating

4.5 out of 5

Euro NCAPAdult protectionChild protectionSafety assist
Five stars94%87%80%

The NEXO's hydrogen tanks are pressurised to a frightening-sounding 10,000 psi, but being made of extremely heavy-duty carbon-fibre and Kevlar, they passed the stringent crash tests carried out by Euro NCAP with very good scores. In fact, the NEXO betters cars like the BMW X5 and Volkswagen Touareg for occupant protection. Given that it also comes with the most advanced standard safety systems going, it’s hard to fault it for safety. Reliability is much harder to judge at this point.

Hyundai NEXO reliability & problems

Reliability of hydrogen fuel-cells is still a relatively new frontier, but it's fair to say that the electric motor that powers the car will be far more reliable than a combustion engine, since it has vastly fewer moving parts. It’s also reasonable to expect that the hydrogen fuel cells will be reliable going by the extensive tests and pilot schemes that have been run using the technology over the last decade or more, but a precise prediction is next-to-impossible at the moment.
 
Hydrogen fuel cells do degrade slowly over time, rather like batteries, so you’ll see a very gradual drop in the car’s efficiency over long periods. However, experts at University College London (UCL), who are at the forefront of hydrogen fuel-cell research and testing, state that fuel cells typically lose efficiency slower than lithium-ion batteries, so you’re unlikely to notice any change in the car’s range per tank or general efficiency for many years and many thousands of miles.

Safety

The NEXO scored very highly in Euro NCAP crash tests, actually achieving fractionally better scores for occupant protection than some big-name SUVs like the BMW X5. It also has the most extensive standard safety equipment you’ll find, including a blind-spot camera that pops up on the dashboard screen when you indicate, and also sounds an audible warning if there’s something in the lane next to you.
 
There’s also adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance (which work together to offer a semi-autonomous driving mode), an autonomous parking system that steers the car into or out of a space, and autonomous emergency braking that brakes for you if it senses an imminent collision with a car or pedestrian. On top of that, there’s a 360-degree parking camera and sensors, automatic LED headlights and six airbags (admittedly, no knee airbags are included). The only black mark is that there’s no space-saver spare tyre, only a tyre inflation kit.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Nissan’s masterplan: 6 new cars by 2026, including next-gen Micra, Leaf successor and revamped Juke,
New Nissan Future models - Picture 1
News

Nissan’s masterplan: 6 new cars by 2026, including next-gen Micra, Leaf successor and revamped Juke,

Nissan has set itself a target of introducing 30 new models globally over within the next two years
25 Mar 2024
New Genesis Neolun concept paves the way for the GV90 SUV
New Genesis Neolun concept - picture 1
News

New Genesis Neolun concept paves the way for the GV90 SUV

With a host of new technology, the Neolun is the brands first step towards a full-size electric SUV.
27 Mar 2024
Rolls-Royce Spectre review: almost the last word in fully-electric luxury
Rolls-Royce Spectre - front tracking
In-depth reviews

Rolls-Royce Spectre review: almost the last word in fully-electric luxury

The Spectre is Rolls-Royce’s admirable first step into the world of electric cars, but it’s not quite perfect
26 Mar 2024