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Back to Motoring news

Motoring news

'Smallest' four-seater gets top safety score

19/02/2009

Crash safety body Euro NCAP has released the first batch of results under its new testing regime.

And of the six cars tested, four were awarded the maximum five stars for overall safety. These included the Mazda 6, Mitsubishi's Lancer and Toyota's Avensis, which is assembled in the UK.

Toyota's iQ city car, claimed by the company to be the world's smallest four-seater, was also awarded five stars in the tests.

Under the 2009 tests, cars are awarded an overall score based on the weighted average of four criteria: adult occupant protection (50% weighting), child occupant protection (20%), pedestrian (20%) and a new category assessing electronic driver aids (10%).

To gain a five-star overall rating, a car's total score must reach 70% or above.

Euro NCAP said that Toyota's scores with the iQ and the Avensis - a large family car - demonstrate that "car size does not stand in the way of all-round safety".

It also singled out Citroen's C3 Picasso which, although achieving four stars overall, received points under the new driver aid category for its on-board speed limiter.

However, the organisation's analysis adds: "Whilst the outstanding results of this first batch of cars prove they offer the latest in vehicle safety, the underlying scores clearly expose potential for improvement.

"Most cars tested showed a weak performance in the side impact pole test."

Commenting on the results, NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said: "We acknowledge that this new rating scheme is more challenging in some areas.

"These manufacturers have shown that they are meeting all of our early targets. We look forward to seeing where they go next."