News: Euro NCAP announces crash test scores for Discovery Sport, Mondeo, Sorento, Mini, Passat and Macan
Which are the safest new cars?
DELIBERATELY SMASHING their brand new Porsche, Land Rover or Mini into a wall is probably the last thing on car buyers’ minds, but just in case it ever happens by accident it’s reassuring to know that Euro NCAP has done it for them.
Europe’s most authoritative independent car safety organisation recently announced its latest results. It took new models from car markers including Land Rover, Kia, Porsche, Ford, Mini, Volkswagen and Dacia, the increasingly popular budget brand, and subjected them to a series of rigorous crash tests that show how well the family cars protect passengers.
Scroll down to see how well the cars performed…
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SUV CRASH TEST RESULTS
Land Rover Discovery Sport
It may be so new that the Land Rover Discovery Sport isn’t yet in dealers’ showrooms, but you can order one today – so how safe is it? Euro NCAP awarded the Discovery Sport a maximum overall rating of five stars. The scores were high in all areas, and the latest generation of electronic driver aids were commended, notably the standard autonomous emergency braking system.
- Overall rating: *****
- Adult occupant rating: 93%
- Child occupant rating: 83%
- Pedestrian rating: 69%
- Safety assist rating: 82%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Land Rover Discovery Sport
Kia Sorento
Another car that’s not in showrooms just yet, the new Sorento is a large affordable SUV which goes on sale in the Summer. Like the Discovery Sport, it offers seating for up to seven and is a common sight on the school run. So it will be reassuring to parents thinking of buying one that it scored a maximum rating of five stars, even though its electronic driver aids didn’t score as highly as the Land Rover’s.
- Overall rating: *****
- Adult occupant rating: 90%
- Child occupant rating: 83%
- Pedestrian rating: 67%
- Safety assist rating: 71%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Kia Sorento
Porsche Macan
We’re splitting hairs here – after all, the new Macan SUV achieved a five-star rating – but closer inspection of all its scores showed it fell behind the Land Rover and Kia. This is partly due to the forward-collision warning system being an optional extra.
- Overall rating: *****
- Adult occupant rating: 88%
- Child occupant rating: 87%
- Pedestrian rating: 60%
- Safety assist rating: 66%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Porsche Macan
Lexus NX
In showrooms now, this was another five star car, although the Lexus NX recorded the lowest adult occupant protection score. The NX is comparable in size to the Porsche Macan, so it’s interesting to see how it performs better in the pedestrian and safety assist categories.
- Overall rating: *****
- Adult occupant rating: 82%
- Child occupant rating: 82%
- Pedestrian rating: 69%
- Safety assist rating: 71%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Lexus NX
SMALL CAR CRASH TEST RESULTS
Vauxhall Corsa
The new Corsa, which is in showrooms now, might be a rehash of the last generation model but is has performed reasonably well in crash tests, scoring four out of five stars overall. It could have done better in the pole test, which simulates the side of the car striking a lamppost, and whiplash protection was judged as marginal – Euro NCAP-speak for average – and autonomous emergency braking is not available, dropping its score.
- Overall rating: ****
- Adult occupant rating: 79%
- Child occupant rating: 77%
- Pedestrian rating: 71%
- Safety assist rating: 56%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Vauxhall Corsa
Mini Cooper hatchback
Could do better: that’s the impression you get from the crash tests of the Mini hatchback, especially given it is an all-new car, purpose designed from top to bottom. The side-impact test, simulating another car driving into the driver’s door area, highlighted a marginal performance, and despite its cuddly image and extended nose, the Mini isn’t especially friendly to pedestrians.
- Overall rating: ****
- Adult occupant rating: 79%
- Child occupant rating: 73%
- Pedestrian rating: 66%
- Safety assist rating: 56%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Mini Cooper
Smart Fortwo
Tiny but tough? This is the new 2015 Smart Fortwo, the two-seat city car that is great for fitting into the tightest of parking spots, but how good is it at protecting everyone in a smash? It was awarded four stars, with good passenger protection but harsh scores for the pedestrian protection and safety assist criteria. Given it’s claimed to be the perfect inner city car, that’s a let-down.
- Overall rating: ****
- Adult occupant rating: 82%
- Child occupant rating: 80%
- Pedestrian rating: 56%
- Safety assist rating: 56%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Smart Fortwo
Smart Forfour
The four-door Smart achieved a four star overall rating, but the pole test, which simulates the side of the car striking a lamppost, showed that the car only offered marginal protection to the driver. The lack of any autonomous emergency braking system – surely a handy feature for a city car – also let it down.
- Overall rating: ****
- Adult occupant rating: 78%
- Child occupant rating: 77%
- Pedestrian rating: 65%
- Safety assist rating: 56%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Smart Forfour
Dacia Logan MCV
The Dacia Logan MCV is as affordable as estate cars come, with a cut price of £6,995. Unfortunately, it would appear that drivers who pay less must accept less, as the Logan MCV only scores three out of five stars in EuroNCAP crash tests. Protection for the driver’s chest and feet in the event of a front or side pole impact was classed as being weak, whiplash prevention was marginal and with so few electronic driver aids available, it was marked down in the safety assist test.
- Overall rating: ***
- Adult occupant rating: 57%
- Child occupant rating: 75%
- Pedestrian rating: 55%
- Safety assist rating: 38%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Dacia Logan MCV
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FAMILY CAR CRASH TEST RESULTS
Ford Mondeo
It’s been an uncomfortably long wait for the next generation, 2015 Ford Mondeo but it would appear to have been worth it. The family car performed well in crash tests, looking after front seat passengers and children in the back seats which contributed to a maximum five star rating.
- Overall rating: *****
- Adult occupant rating: 86%
- Child occupant rating: 82%
- Pedestrian rating: 66%
- Safety assist rating: 66%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Ford Mondeo
Subaru Outback
Subaru may have fallen out of fashion with country folks after a go-anywhere family car, but it’s clear the modest Japanese car company is still putting the effort in to new models, like the Outback. It earned a five star score from Euro NCAP, with a particularly high level of protection for children sat in the rear seats.
- Overall rating: *****
- Adult occupant rating: 85%
- Child occupant rating: 87%
- Pedestrian rating: 70%
- Safety assist rating: 73%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Passat
The Passat has always been one of those family cars that’s good at everything, and the new model appears to continue that tradition. Euro NCAP awarded it the full five star safety rating, and praised its active cruise control and active emergency braking system.
- Overall rating: *****
- Adult occupant rating: 85%
- Child occupant rating: 87%
- Pedestrian rating: 66%
- Safety assist rating: 76%
See the full Euro NCAP safety rating for the Volkswagen Passat
