Euro NCAP: Q5, Jazz, i20, Soul and 3008 Achieve 5-Star Rating, Suzuki Alto gets only 3-Stars

European car safety testing body Euro-NCAP has announced its latest batch of results for six new cars. Five of these models, the Audi Q5, Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20, Kia Soul and Peugeot 3008 received Euro NCAP's maximum five star award while Suzuki's made-in-India Alto scored only three stars, its rating limited by its performance in adult occupant protection, child protection and safety assistance technologies. Euro NCAP made a special note on the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai i20 as both cars managed to achieve a high score in pedestrian safety.

"We would like to commend the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai i20 for their impressive pedestrian scores that not only meet current requirements, but also meet Euro NCAP's future requirements," Euro NCAP said in a statement.

All six vehicles were tested with Euro NCAP's new overall rating scheme that was introduced in 2009 and covers Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and a new area of assessment, Safety Assist. Under the new testing regime, vehicles are awarded a single overall score from one to five stars with the overall rating being based on the car's performance in each of the four main areas and the scores are weighted with respect to each other.

New VW Golf Receives 5-Stars in Updated EuroNCAP Tests

EuroNcap today released its revised crash test results for the sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf. Despite the stricter and more comprehensive assessment criteria of EuroNCAP's updated crash test programme, the German hatchback gained the highest score of five stars. Since February 2009, a vehicle must receive a minimum value in all four categories (adult, child and pedestrian protection, plus safety assist) as well as in the overall assessment to gain a five star award.

Additionally, in the new assessment procedure, electronic safety and assistant systems such as ESC (electronic stability control) that help to prevent accidents and avoid serious injury are also included in the evaluation.

Honda Accord Achieves 5-Stars at Euro Ncap's Revised Rating System

The latest generation Honda Accord (sold in the States as the Acura TSX) has been awarded with five-stars under Euro NCAP's revised safety rating scheme that replaces the three separate ratings for pedestrian impact, adult and child protection with a single five-star rating. In the previous rating system, the Accord had a 5 star adult occupant, 4 star child occupant and 3 star pedestrian protection scores

Euro NCAP's new rating scheme uses a weighted score that combines adult (50 per cent), child (20 per cent) and pedestrian (20 per cent) protection assessment results with the availability of safety assistance devices such as the electronic stability control (10 per cent). Under the new rating system, a minimum score of 70 per cent overall is necessary for a 5-star rating. Honda's Accord achieved an overall weighted score of 78 percent.

EuroNCAP's Revised Safety Ratings for Six New Cars Including Mazda6, Avensis and Impreza

The European organization for the assessment of vehicle safety has published the first results under its updated rating system. Up until now, Euro NCAP made three separate ratings available for each vehicle, but with the new system there's an overall rating for every car covering Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and a new area of assessment, Safety Assist which takes into account systems such as electronic stability control (ESC) and seat belt reminders.

Of the six cars tested under the new ratings system, four managed to achieve Euro NCAP's maximum award of five stars: the Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Avensis and Toyota iQ. Citroen's C3 Picasso minivan and the Subaru Impreza were both awarded four stars.

According to Euro NCAP, with the exception of the Subaru Impreza, all the other cars failed to impress on pedestrian protection.

After the announcement of the results, Mitsubishi and Subaru both said that they would change their ESC (electronic stability control) fitment policies for the Lancer and Impreza, as variants of these models without optional ESC were offered in some Euroepan countries.

Euro NCAP's new rating scheme requires all safety equipment, including ESC, to be standard on 85% of volume sales and at least optionally available on every variant.

VW Golf VI Achieves 5-Star Rating at Euro NCAP Crash Tests

As with most new vehicles nowadays, the 2009 Volkswagen Golf VI was awarded with an excellent five-star result for the protection it offers to adult passengers in the latest phase of the Euro NCAP safety tests. The new Golf also scored a four-star rating (out of five) for child protection and an acceptable three out of four stars for pedestrian protection proving that auto manufacturers are finally paying a bit of attention to those unfortunate enough to cross paths with the front-end of your vehicle.

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2009 Audi A4 Earns 5-Star Rating in NHTSA Crash Tests

Audi pompously announced today that its all-new 2009 A4 Sedan managed to rack up a 5-star rating for frontal, side and rollover crashes performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While the U.S. law requires all passenger cars to pass a 30 mph frontal crash test and a 33.5 mph side crash test, NHSTA's tests involve crashes that are conducted at 5 mph above the required speeds giving one star for the worst performers to five stars for the best models. -Continued

Apparently happy with the results, Audi of America's Executive Vice President Johan de Nysschen said: “Unparalleled safety is a cornerstone of Audi’s new vehicle development and we are thrilled to see the A4 earn top marks in one of the toughest crash testing programs in the world.”

The new A4 officially went on sale in the U.S. in late September and it is currently offered in the States with a choice of two gasoline units, an entry-level 211HP 2.0-liter TFSI and a 265HP 3.2-liter V6 FSI.

Video: Hyundai Genesis Gets 5-Star Ratings in NHTSA’s Crash Tests

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded five-star crash test ratings to the 2009 Genesis for both frontal and side-impact crash tests, providing yet another helpful selling point to Hyundai's first venture into the luxury car segment. “These five-star results are just one indication of the dedication Hyundai engineers place on safety,” commented John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America’s vice president of Strategic Planning and Product Development. According to Krafcik, the Genesis owes its five star scores at NHTSA’s crash test to the rigid body structure combined with the car’s standard eight airbags and electronic active head restraints. -Check out NHTSA’s crash test video after the jump

Via: Safecar.gov

Euro NCAP to Reassess Crash Test Rating System

In a move that is more than welcome, European car safety testing body Euro NCAP announced today that it will revaluate its crash test rating system to take into account pedestrian safety and electronic stability controls with the results for the first vehicles to be tested under this new rating system due to be released in February 2009. Euro NCAP says that the reason behind these changes is that most manufacturers set out to achieve five-star ratings for adult occupant protection to attract consumers, but compromise safety investment in other areas.

While the the maximum rating in the new system will continue to be five stars, the new overall rating will reflect the protection offered to adult and child occupants as well as pedestrians and, for the first time, the fitment of systems such as electronic stability control (ESP). Moreover, the assessment of adult occupant protection will be expanded to include whiplash testing. -Continued

Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP says “I am delighted that more and more manufacturers are achieving five stars in our crash-tests, but it is imperative that Euro NCAP continues to set higher benchmarks for car makers to aspire to. Our new rating system will do this.”

“I have no doubt that manufacturers will step up to the challenge, just as they did when we first started. The creation of new technologies means enhanced safety performance and a potential reduction of fatalities on our roads,” added Michiel van Ratingen. “We intend to reward those manufacturers that make this their ultimate goal.”

Euro NCAP: Daihatsu Cuore, Lancia Delta, Renault Koleos, Hyundai i30, Mercedes M-Class

European car safety testing body Euro-NCAP announced its latest batch of ratings. Of the five cars whose results were released today, four models -the Lancia Delta, Hyundai i30, Renault Koleos SUV and the Mercedes M-Class, achieved Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star rating for adult occupant protection while the Daihatsu Cuore minicar managed a four star score. Hyundai’s i30 and the Renault Koleos were awarded with four stars in child occupant protection while the Lancia Delta, Mercedes M-Class and the Daihatsu Cuore achieved a mediocre three star rating in the same test. -Continued

Unfortunately, all cars performed poorly in Euro NCAP’s pedestrian protection with four vehicles obtaining just two stars (Lancia Delta, Daihatsu Cuore, Hyundai i30 and Renault Koleos) while the Mercedes M-Class managed a disappointing one star.