Golf scores five stars in Euro NCAP testing

Euro NCAP rates the new Volkswagen Golf a top-notch performer. The crash-safety testing authority has revealed that the new model of Volkswagen's small car not only matches the crash safety qualities of its predecessor, the Type 5 Golf, but offers better (three stars) pedestrian protection.

With a score of 36 points out of a possible tally of 37, the sixth generation Golf now matches the score of Renault's Laguna for adult safety. Among the features fitted to help the Golf 6 achieve this result were a knee airbag for all variants, active headrests, a stronger platform and improved side-impact protection.

In the latest round of testing, Euro NCAP also tested a number of cars slated for Australia -- and a couple still under consideration. Skoda's Superb is due here early next year and obtained a five-star rating for adult protection, with a respectable score of 35 points. It rated four stars for child safety -- out of five -- but only two stars out of four for pedestrian safety. Skoda's large car attained maximum points for side-impact protection, but was let down for child safety by inadequate warning of the dangers associated with using a rearward-facing child safety capsule without deactivating the front-passenger seat airbag first. For pedestrian safety, the Superb's bonnet failed to impress and the testing authority feels it offers next to no protection for the pedestrian's head.

Euro NCAP similarly found that the lack of warning for users of rear-facing child safety capsules in the front passenger seat was a shortcoming of the tiny Hyundai i10.

This vehicle, currently being evaluated for Australia, performed relatively well by the standards of very small cars, achieving four stars for adult safety (26 points) and also securing outstanding scores for child safety (four stars) and pedestrian safety (three stars).

According to Euro NCAP, the i10's dash structure could potentially inflict lower extremity injuries to the driver and front-seat passenger. In addition, the dummy in the driver's seat incurred a significant crushing injury to the chest. Without head protection for the front-seat occupants, the Hyundai was not subjected to a pole test.

Ford's Kuga, a longer-term prospect for Australia, was also tested by Euro NCAP. The compact SUV scored 33 points (five stars) for adult protection, four stars for child safety and three stars for pedestrian safety. Although the front-seat occupants in the Kuga were well protected for lower extremity injury, the driver's airbag lacked the necessary inflation to prevent the driver's head from hitting the steering wheel. In both side-impact and pole tests, the Kuga scored maximum points.

As for the i10 and the Superb, the Kuga was marked down in child safety for lack of clear indication to the driver as to whether the front-passenger airbag was disabled for the rearward-facing child safety seat. In respect of pedestrian safety, the Kuga's bumper worked well, but the bonnet afforded little protection for the pedestrian's head.

The Isuzu D-MAX, recently released here, scored 17 points for adult protection -- a score that translates to one-star safety. According to Euro NCAP, the D-MAX failed in a couple of areas (cabin intrusion and head, neck and chest protection for the driver) that effectively precluded it from an official two-star score, despite its overall score meeting the necessary threshold.

Child safety protection was worth two stars and pedestrian safety one star, in the view of the testing body. Unfortunately for Isuzu, the D-MAX's performance ranks lowly, alongside the Mitsubishi L200 (marketed in Australia as the Triton) and the upgraded Nissan Navara D40 -- itself the subject of some controversy, forcing Nissan to modify the driver's airbag software and resubmitting the vehicle for testing.

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