Five of 53 Models Top-Ranked in European Safety Tests

The Ford Focus is named one of the five safest cars in Europe.

The Euro New Car Assessment Program says 11 of 53 new-car models available on the European market earn five of a possible five stars in recent tests. The poorest result is the Dacia Duster’s three stars.

Euro NCAP, financed by seven European governments in addition to motoring and consumer organizations in every European country, ranks the Focus as the leader in the small family-car safety category.

Other 5-star winners with good scores in each of four areas of assessment are the Audi Q3 in the small off-road 4x4 category; Chevrolet Aveo in the supermini category; Mercedes B-Class in the small MPV category; and Volvo V60 among large family cars.

Runners-up in each category are the Chevrolet Malibu, Mercedes M-Class, Toyota Yaris, Lexus CT200h, Opel Zafira Tourer, Hyundai ix20 and BMW X1.

Euro NCAP makes special mention of the Ford Ranger, the only pickup tested in 2011.

“The Ranger is the safest pickup yet tested by the organization and scored highly in all areas of assessment, most notably in pedestrian protection,” it says in a statement.

With electric cars hitting Europe's roads this year, the organization tested four EVs. It says plug-in vehicles were exposed to the same test conditions as their gasoline counterparts, with special attention paid to battery integrity after a crash.

The Nissan Leaf was the first of its kind to achieve a 5-star overall rating from Euro NCAP.

The organization rewarded several auto makers for producing cars with advanced safety features not yet included in the rating scheme.

The Ford Focus, offered with optional Active City Stop, Driver-Alert Forward Alert and Lane-Keeping Aid, was the first high volume-car to receive four rewards.

Top achievers the Mercedes B-Class and Volvo V60 also were rewarded for Collision-Prevention Assist and City Safety, respectively, while both have Autonomous

Emergency-Braking systems.

“With Euro NCAP Advanced (rewards), we have already recognized a number of technologies offering safety benefits to consumers,” Secretary General Michiel van Ratingen says.

“The safety case for AEB systems is very strong, and we are therefore strongly encouraging manufacturers to increase the availability of such systems on new cars. We are well under way to add the assessment of these systems to the overall rating and to make these systems a requirement for five stars.”

Euro NCAP this year introduces stricter standards by increasing the minimum score in the pedestrian assessment from 40% to 60%, reflecting the improvements introduced by auto makers.

“While a number of carmakers have already demonstrated that cars can be engineered to pass the new limit, the increased demands will challenge others to improve the safety for vulnerable road users,” Euro NCAP says.