The latest set of Euro NCAP crash test results brings an additional reward and more 5 stars. This month's top scorers with five star results are the Audi A6, the BMW X3, the Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Orlando, the Citroën DS5, the Hyundai i40, the Opel Ampera and the VW Golf Cabriolet and Jetta.

Only the Kia Picanto receives an overall rating of four stars. The Picanto is not fitted with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard across the model range in every market it is sold in in Europe so the model chosen by Euro NCAP was not equipped with the technology.

However, in the UK, every model variant in the UK is fitted with ESC, and the technology counts for points in a car's final NCAP score. It is possible that an ESC-equipped Picanto would have fared better than the four-star result awarded.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP secretary general, said: “Proven safety benefits of ESC resulted in new legislation requiring the technology to be fitted as standard on all new models in Europe as of next year. In 2011, consumers should expect this critical safety equipment to be part of any offering regardless of car size or price.”

Euro NCAP continues to test plug-in and electric vehicles and announces that the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera achieves an overall rating of five stars. The new range-extending EV reaches the maximum points in the side pole test as a result of a well optimized balance of structure, interior and restraint system.

Also released this month are the Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Orlando, which showed good whiplash and adult occupant protection scores.

Some of the tested vehicles have obtained high scores for child occupant protection. The Hyundai i40 and both VW Jetta and Golf Cabriolet are scoring 86%.

Ratingen said: “Euro NCAP evaluates child safety for each model tested and encourages car manufacturers to provide equally good protection for adults and children. We consider child protection as a very important part of the overall star rating and have plans to step up our requirements even more in the coming years.”

While many cars released continue to impress in the areas of adult and child occupant protection, pedestrian protection scores are generally still lagging behind.

The Opel Ampera, Audi A6 and Citroën DS5 only just meet Euro NCAP's 2011 pedestrian requirements for a 5 star rating but none of the cars in this release would meet the more stringent 5 star requirement of 60% coming into effect in 2012.

A few car makers have already stepped up, showing much higher pedestrian scores such as the recently tested Ford Focus. Euro NCAP hopes that others will follow suit soon.

Euro NCAP is encouraged to see important advanced safety systems being offered to consumers on more and more models. The largest model yet for Citroën's premium sub-brand, the Citroën DS5, also achieved 5 stars.

The car is fitted with the Citroën Localized Emergency Call, a PSA Peugeot-Citroën technology recognised in 2010 under Euro NCAP Advanced. Likewise, the 5 star new medium-sized SUV BMW X3 comes with the awarded Advanced eCall, a system that is able to automatically notify emergency services providing critical details of the crash event.

Another example is the Mazda Rear Vehicle Monitoring System available on the Mazda 3 tested in 2009. Euro NCAP reviewed the safety benefits of this technology that detects and warns the driver of an approaching vehicle and helps to avoid common lane change related crashes involving two or more vehicles. Euro NCAP will be present at the Frankfurt Motor Show to hand out the privileged Euro NCAP Advanced reward on Mazda's booth.

Detailed information on the latest crash test results and on the rewarded technologies can now be found at www.euroncap.com.
 

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