Top safety marks for A1, Countryman and Sportage

Mixed results as latest Euro NCAP test sees several comers miss out on five-star rating

Recent crash testing by the European New Car Assessment Program has seen mixed results for several new comers.

Of note, four models available on the Australian market scored top safety marks with Audi's new A1 hatch, the Kia Sportage, MINI Countryman and Volkswagen Passat all achieving a maximum possible five-star result. Elsewhere, however, results were not as positive.

Jaguar's latest executive sedan, the XF, scored a four-star result in the latest round of tests. The rating was said to be limited by both adult and child protection. EuroNCAP announced that in the side pole impact test, Jaguar XF's chest protection was rated as 'weak'. Similarly, the car's seat and head restraint offered only 'marginal' whiplash protection.

On the small car front, Nissan's new Micra fell short of top marks with EuroNCAP rewarding the light hatch with a four-star result. Despite a full complement of airbags, stability control and front and rear crumple zones, Micra was marked down for its pedestrian impact protection, insufficient labelling of airbag dangers in relation to rearward facing child seats and chest protection during the side pole impact test. Whiplash protection in the event of a rear-end collision was also rated as 'marginal'.

Commercial new comer Volkswagen Amarok also received a four-star result. The vehicle offered the best pedestrian protection of any commercial utility yet tested by EuroNCAP but scored a 'poor' level of chest protection in the side pole impact test. In frontal collisions, the Amarok offered 'good' knee and femur protection but only 'marginal' neck protection when struck from the rear. Like Micra, VW's new commercial vehicle also lost points for the insufficient labelling of airbag dangers in relation to rearward facing child seats.

Unlike many commercial vehicles currently available on the Australian market, the Volkswagen Amarok will come standard with stability control.

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