Five-star safety score for Golf...

It's a hole in one for the new Volkswagen Golf, as it has been awarded the maximum five stars in European safety tests.

The German firm announced the results last week – ahead of their official release in November by testing body Euro NCAP. They show that the model has beaten its predecessor’s score.

Although the Golf MkV had a five-star rating, the new car has been awarded 36 out of 37 points for adult occupant protection – three more than the old model.

A VW spokesman attributed the newcomer’s score to the firm’s “dedication to accident research and pioneering safety standards”, such as the car’s first knee airbag. The Golf also scooped four out of five stars for child passenger safety, but only three out of four for pedestrian protection. Euro NCAP plans to place greater emphasis on this part of the test in a tougher version of its rating scheme, due to be announced in February.

The Golf MkVI is also one of the first cars to get a score for whiplash protection. This test is carried out by UK research centre Thatcham on behalf of Euro NCAP. The full results will be published in November.