The latest round of Euro NCAP crash testing has delivered four five-star results, with the BMW 3-Series, Hyundai i30, Mazda CX-5 and Peugeot 208 all achieving the maximum safety score.
The Mazda CX-5 compact SUV scored maximum points in both side impact tests – the side barrier and the pole test – making it the only car among this test group to do so.
While Euro NCAP found the Hyundai i30 hatchback offered “weak” protection in the pole test, it achieved the highest score for child occupant protection in this round of testing.
The BMW 3-Series premium sedan was the highest-rated vehicle in the other three testing areas, and performed particularly well for adult occupant protection (95 per cent) and pedestrian protection (78 per cent).
The Peugeot 208 hatch only just cleared the new 60 per cent pedestrian protection threshold introduced at the beginning of 2012, scoring 61 per cent.
Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen praised the CX-5 and the 3-Series for offering autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems, which he is confident will reduce the number of crashes and deaths on the road.
“If all cars were fitted with AEB systems, many crashes could be mitigated or avoided altogether on European roads,” van Ratingen said.
“The Mazda CX-5, which has AEB fitted largely as standard equipment in Europe, is therefore a good example for other manufacturers to follow as Euro NCAP intends to assess AEB in future testing procedures.”
Audi was also presented a Euro NCAP Advanced award for its ‘Pre Sense front plus’ technology, which uses two long-range radars to detect vehicles and objects ahead and help avoid or mitigate nose-to-tail crashes whether or not action is taken by the driver.
Safety Assist Technologies (SATs) like Audi’s Pre Sense will become an increasing focus of Euro NCAP’s assessment. At the association’s 15th anniversary next month, it will reveal and demonstrate the next phase of its safety program, which aims to drive even more safety assistance for European drivers and others around the world.