The hybrid Toyota Prius is among a selection of the latest models to get a five-star rating in the latest Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) crash test results due to be announced in Prague tomorrow, writes Catherine Cronin
The results are thought to reflect better safety design in most new cars and the trend of including more safety features as standard in all types of cars.
For the first time the Euro NCAP safety tests included a hybrid car, the Toyota Prius.
The Prius is thought to have received the top five-star rating for occupant safety, jointly topping its segment, and a major achievement for a hybrid car.
Hybrids carry a mass of batteries making them heavier than regular cars. Their structures have to be strong enough to take this additional weight and be able to absorb the energy in crash.
Other new models in Euro NCAP's latest test phase include the Honda Jazz, Opel Astra, Volkswagen Golf, Volvo S40, Peugeot 407, and the new Opel Tigra, yet to be launched here.
All cars are thought to have performed well in the occupant safety tests and all but the Tigra are thought to have scored five points.
Unlike the early days of Euro NCAP testing, fewer new cars perform poorly with many getting four stars and increasingly the top five-stars for occupant safety. Fierce competition between cars like the VW Golf and the Opel Astra makes a strong safety rating vital for each and both are expected to come away with five stars.
The latest Euro NCAP tests also included convertibles like the Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet, the Saab 9-3 Convertible and the two-seater BMW Z4. It's thought both the Renault Megane CC and the Saab Convertible achieved the top five-star rating for occupant safety.
Five stars for the Saab 9-3 convertible will mean that the full new Saab range sold here holds the top rating. For Renault it will be the seventh vehicle to achieve five stars. Yet while modern two-seaters like the Z4 will do well, they may miss out on the top score without head-protecting airbags.
New cars based on older designs like the Fiat Doblo, also tend to be shy of the top rating.
Euro NCAP is an independent consumer body, part-funded by the FIA. It performs a range of occupant, child and pedestrian safety tests on a selection of new cars each year. The occupant safety crash tests simulate a front and side impact collision.
It also awards points for seat-belt reminders and for an optional 'pole' test which examines how well the driver's head is protected in an accident from hitting something outside the car, like a tree or the bonnet of another car.
Euro NCAP publishes an overall star rating for the different tests and outlines how the major parts of the car performed. Car buyers can use the ratings to compare cars of the same size or in the same class.
Car companies also pay to put their own cars through the independent test as Toyota did recently with the Corolla Verso which received the five-star occupant safety rating.
The latest results and "best in class" performance ratings will be announced tomorrow with the crash tested cars on display in Wenceslas Square.
For full details on Euro-NCAP results see http://www.euroncap.com/