Tourneo Connect Earns Top European Crash-Test Score

Ford’s all-new Tourneo Connect is the first compact people mover to be awarded the maximum 5-star safety rating by the European New Car Assessment Program.

The independent crash-test authority’s maximum rating follows the 5-star rating for the larger Ford Tourneo Custom people mover, the only vehicle in its class to earn the top mark.

The 1.6L Tourneo Connect achieved a score of 94% for adult-occupant protection, 85% for child-occupant protection, 62% for pedestrian protection, 70% for safety assist and 83% overall.

Stephen Lesh, chief program engineer-Ford of Europe Tourneo Connect, says the vehicle, based on the global platform shared with the Focus, C-Max and Kuga, underwent more than 100 full-vehicle crash tests and more than 10,000 computer-simulated tests.

Brussels-based Euro NCAP also awarded five stars to the Peugeot 308, Mazda3, Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid, Maserati Ghibli and Infiniti Q50.

The Ford EcoSport, BMW i3, Nissan Note and Volkswagen T5 were given four stars. The Mercedes Citan Kombi small multipurpose vehicle was reassessed and given four stars after receiving three earlier this year.

The Mazda3, which goes on sale in the U.K. in January, scored 93% for adult protection, 86% for child protection, 65% for pedestrian protection and 81% for safety assist.

The hybrid Outlander’s under-floor battery pack and components of the high-voltage electrical system were unaffected by the crash test. It was rated 88% for adult-occupant protection, 84% for child-occupant protection, 64% for pedestrian protection and 81% for safety assist.

Ford’s EcoSport was awarded 93% for adult-occupant protection, 77% for child-occupant protection, 58% for pedestrian safety and 55% for safety assist.