(Wed 27 Aug 08)

Safety organisation Euro NCAP has decided to introduce a new rating system starting in February next year.

The reason for this is that manufacturers tend to make a big noise about scoring the maximum five stars for adult occupant protection - apparently impossible when Euro NCAP was set up in 1997 but commonplace now - without mentioning the ratings for child occupant and pedestrian protection, which may be substantially lower. In fact, no car has ever been awarded the full complement of stars in either of these categories.

Euro NCAP's response to this is to create a new overall rating which will sum up all aspects of a car's safety, the intention being "to set higher benchmarks for car makers to aspire to," in the words of Euro NCAP Secretary General Michiel van Ratingen. At the same time, the test procedure will be expanded to include electronic stability control (ESP) and possible whiplash effects.

Meanwhile, five cars have just been tested under the current system. Of these, the Lancia Delta (which isn't sold in the UK) and the Hyundai i30, Renault Koleos and Mercedes-Benz M-Class (which are) all scored five stars for adult occupant protection. The i30 and the Koleos also managed four stars for child occupant protection, while the others scored three.

Emphasising Euro NCAP's concerns about pedestrian protection, the Hyundai, Lancia and Renault achieved two out of four stars, while the Mercedes managed just one.

The Daihatsu Cuore was the only car in the group to score just four stars out of five for adult occupant protection. It was given three and two stars respectively in the child and pedestrian categories.

More information at www.euroncap.com.

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