Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes A-Class scores five stars in latest NCAP tests

Top marks for Mercedes, Lexus, Mazda and Hyundai, while the Citroen Berlingo scores four

New Mercedes A-Class - front

Safety body Euro NCAP has subjected the latest batch of new cars to its rigorous testing - and it’s encouraging news for Hyundai, Lexus, Mazda and Mercedes.

Starting with the latter, the new A-Class scooped the maximum five star rating, which, in three out of four categories, achieved some of the highest scores awarded in 2018. In three areas it scored over 90 per cent: 96 in the adult occupant category, 91 for child occupants, and protection for vulnerable road users - including cyclists and pedestrians - it achieved 92 per cent.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Safest cars on sale 2018

Safety features like autonomous emergency braking were also assessed; here the A-Class also scored top marks. An overall rating of 72 percent was a result of a lane keep assist system which NCAP only considered between ‘Adequate’ and ‘Marginal’ in its operation.

The second highest adult occupant score in the latest round of testing went to the revised Mazda 6, which scored 95 per cent. It then effectively matched the Mercedes’s 91 per cent score in the child occupant category, and scored a similar 73 per cent in the safety assist tests.

However, it achieved a lower 66 per cent score in the vulnerable road users category, which was attributed to the leading edge of the bonnet and A-Pillars both posing a risk of injury.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Hyundai's hydrogen-fuelled Nexo also scored the Maximum five star score. It impressed testers with a 94 per cent adult occupant score, and its 80 per cent safety assist rating has only been bettered by the Volkswagen Touareg in 2018. Child occupant and vulnerable road user scores were rated at 87 and 67 per cent respectively.

The final five-star car from the October tests was the Lexus ES. It also impressed across the board: 91 per cent for the adult occupant category, 87 per cent for child occupants, 90 per cent for vulnerable road users and 77 per cent for the safety assist category.

PSA’s latest van-based batch of people movers, the Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Rifter and Vauxhall Combo Life, were each awarded a four star rating. Each achieved identical ratings of 91 percent for adult occupants, 81 percent for children, 58 percent for vulnerable road users and 68 percent for safety assist systems.

Their performance in the vulnerable road users category knocked a star off their overall scores: the tall bonnet and stiff windscreen pillars dropped the overall mark, and the autonomous emergency braking system is unable to detect cyclists.

Read more about the Mercedes A-Class here...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Chief reviewer

Alex joined Auto Express as staff writer in early 2018, helping out with news, drives, features, and the occasional sports report. His current role of Chief reviewer sees him head up our road test team, which gives readers the full lowdown on our comparison tests.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best small hybrids on sale 2025
Best small hybrids - header

Best small hybrids on sale 2025

Do you need good fuel economy, but don’t want a large PHEV? Here’s our list of the best small hybrids on sale in the UK
Best cars & vans
29 Apr 2025
Most aerodynamic cars: the sleek, slippery new cars with the lowest drag
Most aerodynamic cars - header

Most aerodynamic cars: the sleek, slippery new cars with the lowest drag

Car efficiency is right in the spotlight but there’s more to achieving it than a high-tech powertrain. Good-old aerodynamics are also key, with some c…
Best cars & vans
5 Apr 2025
New vs used hatchbacks: Skoda Octavia or Mercedes A-Class?
New Skoda Octavia vs used Mercedes A-Class - header

New vs used hatchbacks: Skoda Octavia or Mercedes A-Class?

Traditional hatchbacks are still a great option for all the family, but which one should you buy?
Car group tests
27 Mar 2025
Best future classics 2025: car investments that could make you money
Future classics - header image

Best future classics 2025: car investments that could make you money

Identifying future classic cars is a tricky but potentially lucrative business, here are our future classic recommendations
Best cars & vans
6 Jan 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025