The latest round of Euro NCAP results are announced today, with another round of high scores from a range of superminis and family cars. But none of the cars tested could manage more than three stars for pedestrian protection.
Daihatsu’s Materia supermini and, surprisingly, the Honda Civic trailed the pack with only four stars for occupant safety, but the Merc C-class, Renault Laguna, Volvo V70 and – impressively – the tiny Mazda 2 all came out with the top score.
The Renault Laguna would have achieved the highest ever score for adult protection had it not lost a point for a rear door opening in the side impact test.
Blotches on the copybook include problems with deployment of the Volvo and Mazda’s airbags. Both were late firing in specific tests, and had to be retested. The manufacturers are contacting owners to upgrade the airbag equipment as part of a safety recall.
Adult occupant protection
• Daihatsu Materia ****
• Honda Civic ****
• Mazda 2 *****
• Mercedes C-class *****
• Renault Laguna *****
• Volvo V70 *****
Child occupant protection
• Daihatsu Materia ***
• Honda Civic ****
• Mazda 2 ****
• Mercedes C-class ***
• Renault Laguna ****
• Volvo V70 ****
Pedestrian protection
• Daihatsu Materia **
• Honda Civic ***
• Mazda 2 **
• Mercedes C-class **
• Renault Laguna **
• Volvo V70 **