Skoda's Superb crash rating

As car safety continues to be one of the top purchasing influencers for new car buyers, Skoda is understandably chuffed with the latest European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) result, which awarded its new flagship sedan top marks.

Due on sale in Australia in the second quarter of next year, the Czech-built Superb scored 80/100 in our review from the global launch and now has a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating to add to its accolades.

The European large car scored well with its array of electronic safety systems, with a 76 per cent rating in the 'Safety Assist' category. Its lowest score was in pedestrian protection, where it was awarded just 71 per cent after specific crash test analysis was carried out.

However, its cored highly in the final two categories, 'Adult Occupant' and 'Child Occupant' protection, with 86 per cent for both.

Skoda claims the Volkswagen group's MQB platform that underpins the car is the key to its improved safety, allowing the Superb to offer "state-of-the-art restraint systems with up to nine airbags, a more rigid body and specifically optimised crumple zones offer the best possible occupant protection".

Other recent Euro NCAP crash test results include the all-new (European-market) Hyundai i20, which is not sold in Australia at present. It scored four out of five stars, dragged down by a low 64 per cent rating for Safety Assist.

The i20's results in the other categories were well above average: 85 per cent in Adult Occupant, 73 per cent in Child Occupant and 79 per cent in Pedestrian.

Although the Superb rated strongly, the days of car-makers snagging maximum five-star NCAP ratings willy-nilly appears to be over as the independent crash testing organisation changes its testing criteria.

There is, however, still much confusion, especially with the changes occurring at ANCAP in Australia, which make it difficult for consumers to understand the relevance and chronology of the results.