Honda leads again in pedestrian safety in NCAP

27 November 2001: The Renault Laguna remains the only car to achieve a five star occupant result in Europe's leading independent crash tests confirmed Euro NCAP today. The Honda Stream compact MPV got three stars in pedestrian safety, emulating the achievement of its Civic sibling.

Crashworthiness results for eight family cars, two small family cars, Honda’s new Civic Stream and the Rover 25 were published at a press conference in Barcelona co-hosted by Euro NCAP and the Catalonian motoring organisation, the RACC.

Max Mosley, Euro NCAP Chairman and President of the FIA, recalled that in 1997 when Euro NCAP first tested family cars, only one of the 13 models achieved four-star status. “Today, in contrast, of the 19 family cars tested one has achieved five stars and 12 have achieved four stars,” he said. “This is clear evidence that Euro NCAP&Mac226;s goal of creating a market for safety is being achieved.”

But, he added, some cars had performed ‘poorly’ in the latest tests. “The Hyundai Elantra and the Alfa Romeo 147 both did particularly badly in the frontal occupant test,” he noted, “with the 147 only achieving a 20% score, one of the worst recorded in Euro NCAP.”

Mr Mosely said pedestrian protection performance continues to be poor, apart from the three-star achievement of the Honda Civic. “The BMW 3 series only achieved a single star rating in the pedestrian test which is very disappointing for a recent vehicle design.”

The Renault Laguna remains the only five-star Euro NCAP car.

The full ‘star’ results of the latest tests are (occupant protection/pedestrian protection): Large Family Cars: BMW 3-series 4/1; Citroën C5 4/2; Ford Mondeo 4/2; Hyundai Elantra 3/2; Peugeot 406 3/2; Skoda Octavia 4/2; Vauxhall/Opel Vectra 3/2; Volvo S60 4/2. Mini MPVs: Honda Stream 4/3. Small Family Cars: Alfa Romeo 147 3/2; Peugeot 307 4/2. Superminis: Rover 25 3/2. BB