The Mercedes-Benz EQC is the German automaker's first all-electric crossover rivaling the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron. While the company's cars have a stellar safety reputation, some people are understandably skeptical about the safety of EVs, especially after a number of Tesla Model S cars caught fire. To ease these fears, Mercedes has already demonstrated the EQC's safety by testing it to destruction at its advanced crash test center. But now the electric SUV has been given Euro NCAP's official seal of approval.

The Mercedes EQC is one of seven vehicles that have been awarded with a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP after being subjected to some punishing crash tests. Euro NCAP found the Mercedes EQC offers excellent adult occupant and child occupant protection, which were rated at 96 percent and 90 percent respectively.

As for pedestrian and cyclist protection (which Euro NCAP rates as 'vulnerable road users') and safety assists, both categories were rated at 75 percent. Despite this, the Mercedes EQC was still given a five-star safety rating overall. Both the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-Tron also earned five-star safety ratings, though Euro NCAP says it will be assessing the Tesla Model X later this year.

Standard safety features for the EQC include a speed limit monitor and active brake assist, while an available Driver Assistance adds blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance, and adaptive cruise control. In the event of an accident, the EQC also has a guard in front of the battery to prevent it from being pierced by objects and potentially cause a fire, and the high-voltage systems can be automatically shut down.

As for technical specs, the Mercedes EQC is powered by two electric motors positioned on the front and rear axles producing a combined output of 402 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque.