Two hybrid cars came top of the Euro NCAP safety ratings for 2009, it has been revealed.
Beaten into submission only by another green car, the Volkswagen Golf, the Honda Insight came second followed by the Toyota Prius.
Euro NCAP has revealed for the first time, the top five safest cars of 2009, based on its five star awards and overall scoring system.
The sixth generation Golf came first with a rating of 97 per cent for adult occupant safety, followed by the two hybrid models; the Honda Insight with 90 per cent and the Toyota Prius with 88 per cent. In fourth place came the Hyundai i20. There are three joint winners for fifth place – the Toyota Avensis, Volvo XC60 and another super-low emission model; the Opel/Vauxhall Astra. Euro NCAP’s poorest results of the year were achieved by the Suzuki Alto and the Toyota Urban Cruiser, which both received three stars.
The crash-test safety specialist tested thirty three car models in 2009, testing each for the safety of child passengers, adult passengers and pedestrians.
To calculate an overall safety rating, the car model is usually put through four crash tests, a component test and is assessed by an inspector who considers tests results and the safety equipment and features of the car.
In 2010 the tests are set to get tougher though, the threshold to achieve Euro NCAP’s maximum five stars will rise from 75 per cent to 80 per cent in Adult Occupant Protection and from 70 per cent to 75 per cent in Child Occupant Protection. The threshold for Pedestrian Protection rises to 40 per cent. The first results for vehicles tested under this stricter assessment will be released on 3rd March 2010.
