Euro NCAP, the European car safety performance assessment programme, has published the car models that are the best in class for 2011.
In 2011 Euro NCAP published the results for 53 new car models available on the European market. To be selected the safest cars of their categories, the following vehicles achieved a five star rating and showed good scores in each of Euro NCAP’s four areas of assessment: adult occupant safety, child occupant safety, pedestrian safety and safety assist.
The top achievers per category are:
• Supermini category: Chevrolet Aveo
• Small Family category: Ford Focus
• Small MPV category: Mercedes B Class
• Large Family category: Volvo V60
• Small off-road 4×4 category: Audi Q3
Also in 2011, Euro NCAP released the results of four electric vehicles. Plug-in vehicles are exposed to the same test conditions as their gasoline counterparts, while special attention is paid to battery integrity after a crash. The Nissan LEAF was the first of its kind to achieve Euro NCAP 5 star overall rating, placing itself amongst this year’s best small family cars.
Euro NCAP rewarded several car makers for their advanced safety features not yet included in the rating scheme. The Ford Focus, offered with optional Active City Stop, Driver Alert Forward Alert and Lane Keeping Aid, made headlines as the first high volume car receiving four rewards. Top achievers Mercedes B Class and Volvo V60 also were rewarded for Collision Prevention Assist and City Safety respectively, both are Autonomous Emergency Braking Systems (AEB).
Euro NCAP has announced that from this year it will introduce stricter standards by increasing the minimum score in the pedestrian assessment from 40% to 60%.
More information on the Euro NCAP and the test results can be found here.
| 31/01/2012 | Steven Schoefs
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