Euro NCAP results

Vauxhall Zafira Tourer, Audi Q3 and BMW 1 Series lead pack of 11 cars to receive five stars in the latest Euro NCAP results

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Jon Morgan

26th October 2011

The latest Euro NCAP results are in – and all but one of the cars tested received the full five-star rating. But Auto Express was shocked to learn that most of them would have fallen short of the maximum safety rating under the stricter assessment being introduced next year.

From 2012, models will be required to score at least 60 per cent in the pedestrian protection category in order to be awarded five stars – up from 40 per cent under the current system.

Of the 12 cars examined, only four would have passed the 2012 test with flying colours – the Toyota Yaris, BMW 1 Series, Mercedes M-Class and the Ford Ranger.

Every other car tested bar the Lancia Voyager earned five stars, but fell short of scoring 60 per cent in the pedestrian protection category – some by a wide margin. The Lancia/Chrysler Voyager scored just 47 per cent, while the Chevrolet Captiva and Hyundai Veloster managed 48 per cent and 49 per cent respectively.

The Vauxhall Astra GTC and Fiat Freemont were both awarded 50 per cent. While the Audi Q3 scored 52 per cent and the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer was given 53 per cent and the Lancia/Chrysler Thema scored 59 per cent.

Car	Overall rating	Adult occupant	Child occupant	Pedestrian	Safety assist
Audi Q3	5 stars	94%	85%	52%	86%
BMW 1 Series	5 stars	91%	83%	63%	86%
Chevrolet Captiva	5 stars	88%	82%	48%	71%
Ford Ranger	5 stars	96%	86%	81%	71%
Fiat Freemont	5 stars	83%	82%	50%	71%
Hyundai Veloster	5 stars	96%	89%	49%	71%
Lancia Thema	5 stars	83%	77%	59%	71%
Lancia Voyager	4 stars	79%	67%	47%	71%
Mercedes M-Class	5 stars	96%	75%	60%	86%
Opel/Vauxhall Zafira Tourer	5 stars	94%	83%	53%	86%
Opel/Vauxhall Astra GTC	5 stars	91%	79%	50%	71%
Toyota Yaris	5 stars	89%	81%	60%	86%

What’s your view on the Euro NCAP scoring system? Is the system less valuable to car buyers when so many models gets the maximum five stars? Tell us below…

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8 Comments

Ford Ranger Star of the test

I think one of the key points here is that the Ford Ranger would have got 5 stars even after the stricter rules are applied making it (an evil 4x4 and a Commercial vehicle) safer than most passenger cars for pedestrians!

By Correcting_Reports on 26 October, 2011, 9:20am

Good to know

Good to know when driving your car into a brick wall your in the knowledge that you car scored 5 stars! but seriously good to know that levels of protection have to meet certain standards

By dan123 on 26 October, 2011, 12:51pm

Scoring system

Personally I think the scoring system needs an overhaul - everything above has scored five stars and most vehicles do these days, but the individual results vary quite a lot. A 5 star hotel does not guarantee the service or food is any good, just that their is a swimming pool and your room has a tv in it! I would think most people would wish to know how good the protection is for the driver first (being the main user!), front seat passenger, then reat seat occupants, especially children. I doubt many people really care about pedestrians or cyclists unfortunate (or stupid) enough to get in their path but I think it is good that manufacturers are forced to consider pedestrian safety in the design of their cars.

By alex34197 on 26 October, 2011, 12:51pm

Add a 6th Star

Now that most cars are achieving 5 stars it seems clear that there needs to be a 6th star with even harsher tests and stricter pass thresholds.

By BenS1 on 26 October, 2011, 2:21pm

I agree with BenS1. At 96% adult protection, it implies - misleadingly - you are almost totally safe, which is nonsense.

By spindler1955 on 27 October, 2011, 11:31am

agreed bens1

By sirstuart on 27 October, 2011, 10:37pm

Add a 6th star

I also agree. Changing the pass rates is silly, as a 5 star rating in 2012 will not mean the same as one tested in 2011, and the public will be confused. Moreover, if a manufacturer re-submitted the same car, it might drop to a 4 star, and the public would rightly ask what's going on? By all means make the tests harder, but just open up the max number of stars so we the public can still compare last years ratings to next years to help us pick safer cars. Most of the public don't know 5stars is the max, but they all know more stars is better!

By timmybabe on 28 October, 2011, 6:15am

I hate to be "that" guy, but I have to point out that the Giulietta that came 19th in you hatchback test, outperformed the BMW 1 Series with 96% Adult Occupancy and 85% Child Occupant.

Clearly someone else have to revise their standards as well...

By msocratous on 28 October, 2011, 3:50pm

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