Latest Euro NCAP results praise Tesla, BMW, Skoda and Nissan

The latest Euro NCAP safety and crash test ratings have been released. These latest results reveal excellent performances by four new models from Tesla, BMW, Skoda and Nissan.

The new Tesla Model S has been widely reveared by the motoring press as the future of performance motoring, and things just get better for Elon Musk's California based company. The electric super-saloon now gets a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP for all-round safety.

The results also show an impressive 82% for adult occupant protection and 77% for child occupant protection. A score of 66% for pedestrian protection and 71% for active safety systems put the Tesla on a par with rivals like the Audi S6.

BMW also scored a winner with its new 2-Series Active Tourer, which also gets five stars. An impressive 85% for child occupant protection confirms its strength as a family MPV and is up there with the safest rivals.

13

Nissan and Skoda can also celebrate, as the new Pulsar hatch and Fabia supermini both get top marks from Euro NCAP. Renault's Megane has been retested, and gets an extra star taking the total to four. It was originally given five stars, but the score was reduced to three when the safety tests became more stringent.

Suzuki's new Celerio city car missed out on a top score, only achieving three cars. Although this is mostly due to safety equipment, such a side curtain airbags, not being standard on the non-UK model they tested. Suzuki assures us the UK-spec model will get six airbags as standard, which would theoretically increase the rating.

The Celerio lost out due to a lack of standard active safety tech and a poor pedestrian rating, although it was adequate in front and side barrier impact tests. However, rivals such as the Dacia Sandero are just as cheap and get four stars, while the Skoda Citigo gets five stars.

Now read our round-up of the safest cars on sale