Volvo V40 world's safest small car
Swedish brand's reputation as the world's safest car maker cemented after Euro NCAP announces V40 hatch is almost perfectThe new Volvo V40 small car has blitzed the latest round of crash testing data announced by Euro NCAP, scoring the highest safety result ever recorded by the institute in its segment.
Though many modern cars are given a five-star safety rating, the Volvo V40 has scored the highest results in three of the four categories that make up the tests, adult occupant protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist.
The V40 scored 100 per cent in the safety assist category, 98 per cent for adult occupant protection, and 88 per cent for pedestrian protection, thanks in part to its new pedestrian airbag that deploys from the bonnet. All three scores represent a new highwater mark for crash safety. Child protection was given a rating of 75 per cent.
Arriving in Australia in February, the V40 will go head-to-head with cars such as the Lexus CT200h, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series, but will have the safety edge over all comers in the premium small car segment.
"We are very proud to have one of the world's safest cars and we're taking yet another important step toward our 2020 target that nobody should die or be seriously injured in a Volvo," stated Thomas Broberg, Senior Technical Advisor Safety at Volvo Car Corporation after the results were announced.
Five other vehicles were also tested in the latest round of the European New Car Assessment Programme: new generations of the Audi A3, Renault Clio, Isuzu D-Max, Ford B-MAX and Kia Cee'd. The latter two are not sold in Australia. Both the A3 and Clio scored five-star ratings and will go on sale in Australia in 2013, while Isuzu D-Max scored a four star Euro NCAP safety rating.
The Secretary General of Euro NCAP, Michiel van Ratingen, said the latest batch of results proved that car makers were rapidly improving safety systems, particularly in relation to pedestrian safety.
"In Europe, 14 per cent of all road traffic fatalities are pedestrians. While in the last three years Euro NCAP has increased the requirements, the vehicle manufacturers have stepped up to the challenge. The scores observed today were unthinkable just a few years ago with the new V40 setting a new standard."
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