Strong showing for small cars in Euro NCAP crash tests

In its latest round of testing, Europe’s Euro NCAP testing body crash tested four newly launched models with all of them showing excellent results. The cars included the Fiat 500 and Renault Twingo superminis as well as the Kia Cee'd and new Peugeot 308 hatches.

The stylish 500 mini managed a five star safety rating for adult occupant protection but only a three star rating for child protection. Pedestrian safety fared the worse, with the supermini only scoring two stars out of the possible five star rating. Renualt’s Twingo scored just four stars in the adult protection test and child occupant protection couldn’t be tested because the car is simply too small to fit child restraints in the back.

Kia’s Cee'd made a strong showing, also scoring five stars in the adult protection tests – the first time a Kia has achieved top marks. Peugeot’s 308 did even better, scoring extra marks in the pedestrian safety tests.

Small cars and the even smaller minicars have come a long way in terms of safety, and these latest tests prove the cars are not the deathtraps they’re often perceived to be.