Euro NCAP has released the crash test results for fourteen vehicles, including the Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Amarok, Jaguar XF and the first Chinese-manufactured vehicle that's actually made it as far as being tested.
Of them, 10 achieved the maximum five stars, three got four and one received a two-star rating.
The VW Amarok was awarded four stars and, with 17 points, achieved the highest score for pedestrian protection of any bakkie yet tested by Euro NCAP. However, a poor level of chest protection was recorded in the side pole test.
The Kia Sportage scored 33 points out of a possible 36 for adult occupant protection, 42 out of 49 for child occupant protection, 18 out 36 for pedestrian protection and six out of seven for safety assist. The Sportage was also praised for having electronic stability control as standard.
The only executive car in this group - the Jaguar XF - surprisingly received only four stars, its rating limited by adult and child occupant protection. Chest protection was rated as weak in the side-pole impact test and the XF's seats and head restraints provided marginal whiplash protection.
But that was a whole lot better than the only Chinese vehicle; after an unsuccessful first introduction to the European market in 2005 (it couldn't even pass roadworthy, let alone crash testing!), Landwind returned with the CV9, a mid-sized MPV, which it said had been “revamped to meet the strictest European safety standards”.
The CV9 was still poorly equipped in comparison to other vehicles in this segment, however, lacking side-protection airbags, any head protection and electronic stability control. It came close to meeting the three-star threshold for adult occupants but its overall performance rated only two stars.
Euro NCAP Secretary General Dr Michiel van Ratingen said: “It's clear that vehicles from China, India and other emerging countries will become commonplace on European roads in the next few years. By highlighting differences in safety performance, we aim to drive the safety of all cars towards the high levels we see from more well-established manufacturers.
“We are confident that Landwind and others will rise to this challenge.”
Kia certainly did; when the Venga B-segment MPV was first assessed in February 2010, Euro NCAP highlighted some weaknesses in the frontal impact test results and it was rated at four stars.
Since then Kia has made some structural changes to the front of the car and revised the seat belts and airbags to improve the protection of adult and child occupants. The revised model specification entered production in September 2010 and, on retesting, the Venga was awarded five stars.
Euro NCAP also tested the five-door VW Sharan, which has the same platform, interior fittings and safety equipment as the new Seat Alhambra; each was awarded a five-star rating.
Other five-star scorers were the Audi A1, Mini Countryman, Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max, Opel Meriva and the facelifted VW Passat. The Nissan Micra was awarded four stars.