The new Toyota Prius and Honda Insight are among seven cars to receive a maximum five star rating in the latest round of Euro NCAP safety awards.
The hybrid cars scored highly in the pedestrian impact tests and also both met the requirements for the tougher safety tests being introduced in 2012.
See the cars being tested in the Euro NCAP awards picture gallery
Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s secretary general, said: “The technology and know-how is out there for carmakers to deliver vehicles with better pedestrian protection.
“Honda and Toyota are giving us a glimpse of the cars of the future that consider the natural and social environment in its entirety.”
As well as the Insight and the Prius, the Kia Sorento, Renault Grand Scenic, Skoda Yeti, Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen Polo all scored five stars in the tests.
The Citroen C3 received four stars and only missed out on a fifth as ESC is not fitted as standard on enough of the model range.
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Re: Prius/Insight star in Euro NCAP
I too think the new system is quite misleading - they'd have been better offering a sixth star to those who fit ESP as standard etc. The same-again rating for the C3 makes it look like it isn't any safer than the model it replaces, when it actually is. I do think ESP should be made standard on more cars, but it doesn't take away from the fact that lots of these cars will protect you very well if you have a crash.
Re: Prius/Insight star in Euro NCAP
I'm sure EuroNCAP has raised the level of automotive safety a-lot since its introduction, but I still think the new system isn't all that good. The Subaru, for instance, only offered marginal protection for the knees and femurs of both passenger and driver..I wouldn't give it 5 stars, no matter how good the rest of the car is.
The result of the C3 is also quite misleading; although I do believe that ESC should be standard on all cars, it shouldn't affect the star rating - it gives the impression of a car which is less safe than, for instance, the Legacy, which isn't the case - in the frontal impact and child protection, the C3 actually scored more points than the Legacy.
They should also assess the car's handling; different cars have different amounts of grip and control...so ESC is more necessary on some cars than on others.
On a side note, I'm surprised they didn't test the Merc E-Class and GLK...it's been several months now and they haven't been tested yet...