Friday, March 05, 2010

Tougher safety tests reveal best small car

Euro NCAP releases the crash test results for five new cars the Citroen Nemo, the Kia Venga, the Nissan Cube, the Seat Exeo and the Toyota Verso. In this latest set of results only one car, the Toyota Verso, receives Euro NCAP’s maximum five star rating.
New Euro NCAP rules and further demands in European legislation in 2010, means this year carmakers face even tougher challenges.
In 2010, Euro NCAP raises the bar for carmakers to achieve five stars across three areas of safety protection. Performance thresholds for Adult Occupant Protection and Child Occupant Protection rise from 75pc to 80pc and from 70pc to a 75pc respectively.
However, it is in Pedestrian Protection where the difference is felt the keenest increasing the minimum level required from 25pc to 40pc. The Toyota Verso is the only car to receive a maximum five star award in today’s results, with good scores achieved in all areas and a worthy 69pc in pedestrian protection.