Tokyo — Safety just got a new name — and it’s WR-V (or Elevate in India). In the latest round of Japan’s official automotive safety assessments for 2024, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and NASVA (National Agency for Automotive Safety & Victim’s Aid) have crowned Honda’s compact crossover, the WR-V, with the coveted “Five-Star Award” — the highest possible recognition for safety excellence.
This announcement marks the fourth release of results under the JNCAP Automotive Safety Performance 2024 program, and Honda’s WR-V emerged as a standout with top-tier ratings across all categories, cementing its place in the elite circle of safe cars on Japanese roads.
What Makes the WR-V a Five-Star Hero?
The WR-V scored impressively across the board:
- Preventive Safety: Evaluated under a new framework that now includes intersection accident mitigation through enhanced automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems.
- Crash Safety: Assessed using upgraded tests like the new offset frontal collision and pedestrian lower limb protection evaluations, along with improved dummy placement and impact simulation.
- Emergency Notification Systems: The WR-V comes equipped with an advanced automatic accident emergency call system, which helped push its score to the top.
With these results, the WR-V isn’t just another small SUV — it’s a compact guardian on wheels.
What Changed in 2024’s Evaluation?
New enhancements to the assessment methodology were introduced this year:
- Intersection-focused AEB testing now reflects real-world urban scenarios.
- Offset frontal collisions now consider not just driver protection, but the impact on the other vehicle too.
- TSR (Traffic Sign Recognition) systems are now documented and included for consumer awareness.
- Scoring revisions were made to accommodate these added complexities, meaning 2024 scores aren’t directly comparable to past years.
What is the “Five-Star Award”?
This isn’t just about crash tests and tech checklists. The Five-Star Award is reserved for vehicles that:
- Score an A rank in both preventive and crash safety categories,
- Come equipped with an emergency call system,
- And pass a comprehensive set of real-world simulations and digital evaluations.
Only a few vehicles rise to the top — and the WR-V just joined that exclusive club.
Bonus: New Info for Parents and Pedestrians
The 2024 program also began providing visibility into child-left-in-car prevention systems and enhanced pedestrian protection metrics. Additionally, traffic sign recognition tech data will now be listed on NASVA’s website for vehicles equipped with the feature — another step toward transparency and smarter driving.
The Takeaway
With urban safety demands growing and consumer expectations rising, Honda’s WR-V proves that you don’t need to be big to make a big impact — at least not when it comes to safety. Whether you’re a daily commuter, a weekend road-tripper, or a family on the go, the WR-V just made a very compelling case for itself.
Because when it comes to protecting lives — five stars speak louder than horsepower.
