Five safety stars for 14 new cars

Europe’s top independent crash safety authority has announced a maximum five-star crash safety rating for no less than 14 new models, including four all-new SUVs.

Every vehicle in the latest round of Euro NCAP scored five stars except the Dacia Lodgy (not sold in Australia), which was rated as a three-star car.

All but two of the 15 tested most recently by Euro NCAP are slated for eventual release in Australia, with the new Mitsubishi Outlander and Hyundai Santa Fe already on sale here.

Others to come next year include the new Range Rover, Subaru Forester, Ford Fiesta and Kuga, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Skoda Rapid, Volkswagen Mk7 Golf and Volvo V60 PHEV.

Yet to be formally confirmed for local release are the Fiat 500L and Opel Mokka, both of which also scored five stars.

Euro NCAP Secretary General Michiel van Ratingen was scathing of the Lodgy’s performance in the tests, which saw the car’s A-pillar and front roof section deform, and the rear passenger floor and tunnel panels separate.

“It is disappointing to see the Lodgy do badly in our tests, especially coming just a week after the Sandero, branded a Renault in South America, was given a poor one star rating by Latin NCAP,” said Dr van Ratingen.

“The Lodgy is a budget vehicle and customers will accept compromises in comfort and performance, but not safety. Euro NCAP believes that occupants’ safety should be paramount, regardless of how much they pay for their vehicle.”

Euro NCAP said that despite its plug-in hybrid powertrain adding nearly 350kg, the V60 PHEV performed similarly to the model upon which it is based.

Similarly, the new Range Rover came in for praise, but Euro NCAP said it “understands that, despite generally good results and a five-star rating, the Range Rover will soon be equipped with an improved head restraint to bring whiplash protection in line with expectations for a car of this quality”.

Euro NCAP said the new Golf has scored similarly to its predecessor in most areas but sets a new benchmark by including several advanced driver assistance technologies, including Multi Collision Brake system, Front Assist, Proactive Occupant Protection and Lane Assist.

“However, despite its impressive array of advanced systems, the car misses out on a standard-fit rear seatbelt reminder, a feature which is commonplace in many cars today,” said Euro NCAP.

Euro NCAP also praised the new A-Class for and Fiesta for its advanced driver aids, including Collision Prevention Assist and Attention Assist as standard for the A-Class, which also offers PRE SAFE as an option in Europe.

But is said the Fiesta’s programmable MyKey system, which allows some safety-critical characteristics of the car to be tailored to particular drivers, was a boon for parents wishing to help their children drive more responsibly by limiting speed and including more insistent seatbelt reminders.

“Programmable keys open up a whole new range of possibilities, not just for parents and their children. The technology will also be of interest to companies with safe-driving policies and I look forward to more widespread application of this sort of system in the future,” said Dr van Ratingen.

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