Ford wins big in Euro NCAP rankings

EURO NCAP has released a comparison of vehicles that were crash-tested in 2012 by class, with Ford topping three out of the seven categories.

Last year, ENCAP published results for 36 vehicles that are available in Europe.

Ford took out the category for small four-wheel-drive off-roaders with its new-generation Kuga SUV that arrives in Australia in April, just edging out the Subaru Forester.

Kuga was praised for its overall safety, scoring maximum points in the side barrier test for adult occupants as well as getting top marks for leg protection in the pedestrian safety test.

In the small MPV category, the Ford B-Max – which is not likely to come here – shared top billing with the Fiat 500L.

B-Max scored maximum points for the protection of infants in dynamic tests and for the protection of front passengers in frontal impact tests, while the 500L was praised for its protection of adult occupants in side barrier tests.

Ford’s new Transit van came out on top in the business and family van segment, and also became the first van to receive the maximum five-star overall Euro NCAP rating, scoring high marks for the protection of child occupants.

From top: Euro NCAP crash tests Ford Transit Hyundai Santa Fe BMW 3 Series Renault Clio Volvo V40.

The Transit’s five-star rating is all the more remarkable given that the van segment runners-up – the Fiat Scudo, and its Citroen Jumpy and Peugeot Expert twins – scored just three stars.

Other winners in the fourth annual rankings included the Hyundai Santa Fe (large off-road four-wheel drive), which beat out the new Range Rover, and the BMW 3 Series (large family car), which kept the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid at bay.

Renault’s new Clio was rated the safest superminis ahead of the Ford Fiesta, and the Volvo V40 took out the small family car segment from the Opel Mokka.

Australasian NCAP communications manager Rhianne Robson told GoAuto it has no plans to start a similar ranking system in Australia.

The Euro NCAP rankings coincided with the release of results from the first phase of testing at the newly established ASEAN NCAP testing centre in Malaysia.

This first phase of testing involved a frontal offset crash test that saw mixed results from the locally produced vehicles.

The Ford Festiva and Honda City light cars performed well, each achieving five stars, while the Toyota Vios (called Yaris sedan in Australia) and Nissan March (Micra) hatch managed four stars.

A number of vehicles manufactured by Malaysian car-makers rated poorly.

The Perodua Myvi and Proton Saga with dual airbags scored three stars, the Hyundai i10 two stars and the Proton Saga with a single airbag was given only a one-star rating.

ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh said testing at the purpose-built facility in Melaka will lead to safer vehicles in South-East Asia.

“ASEAN countries are experiencing growth at a variable rate, but one thing for sure is the mobility of the people is progressively increasing,” he said. “The need for safer vehicles will match the increased risk while on the road.”

Phase two of ASEAN NCAP testing will commence later this year, along with plans to introduce a second side impact test.