Mazda3, Toyota RAV4 score five-star ANCAP results

The new Mazda3 has been awarded a five-star ANCAP crash rating across the range, following the latest round of testing.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program applauded the Mazda's occupant protection, which scored 98 per cent - the highest score recorded in its class.

The popular small car also scored well with its active safety systems, such as low speed and high speed autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control, lane departure warning and forward obstruction warning.

Elsewhere, the latest round of testing (originally conducted in Europe before being compared against Australasian metrics) saw five-star scores for the Volkswagen Touareg, Toyota RAV4, hybrid Lexus UX and Range Rover Evoque.

While their scores are yet to be reclassified for Australia, the Euro NCAP also awarded full marks to Audi's pioneering e-tron EV SUV, the Volkswagen T-Cross and the strong-selling Toyota Corolla.

The Mazda3 hatch was only the fourth car ever to have scored 98 per cent in adult occupant protection – something only the Volvo V40 and XC60, plus the Alfa Romeo Giulia has achieved.

Audi's e-tron, meanwhile, scored 91 per cent in the same test after being marked down by safety experts for not equipping it with kneebags.

The baby Lexus UX was scored a respectable 96 per cent for adult occupant protection while actually beating the e-tron for pedestrian safety (82 per cent v 71 per cent), despite both models lacking an active pop-up bonnet.

The Corolla also put on a good show; it was rated 95 per cent as either a hatch or sedan, outperforming the new RAV4 that scored a 93 per cent adult protection.

The small Polo-based Volkswagen T-Cross, meanwhile, was praised by the Euro NCAP for introducing a standard lane support function that was found to be effective if the car detects inadvertent drifting out of a lane.

Commenting on the seven five star verdicts, Euro NCAP's secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said: "It is encouraging to see that all manufacturers did well, regardless of type of powertrain or class of vehicle tested.  New cars on the market continue to offer more advanced technology as standard, systems that were not even considered an option a few years ago."