The new Volkswagen Touareg and Audi A6 have been awarded maximum safety ratings following crash tests conducted by safety assessors Euro NCAP.
Both cars received all five stars, while Ford’s updated Tourneo Connect achieved a credible four stars.
There was disappointing news for the new Suzuki Jimny though, which picked up just three stars.
The Touareg and A6 collected top marks after they performed strongly in autonomous emergency braking (AEB) cyclist tests – a new assessment section introduced at the start of the year.
Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, seemed pleased by September’s batch of results on the whole.
“As our test protocols evolve and become more demanding, a five-star rating remains an achievable although challenging objective for the auto industry,” he said. “These latest results demonstrate that.”
The Jimny’s deflated safety rating came about after scoring low adult occupant protection and safety assist scores.
Thatcham Research’s director of research Matthew Avery expected better from the first new Jimny in 20 years.
“The Suzuki Jimny’s performance in testing betrays its ostensibly rugged exterior,” he commented.
“As a completely new vehicle, it should offer far more protection to drivers in the event of an accident. Its safety technology did not perform optimally either.”
Ford’s Tourneo Connect has only been facelifted but it still managed a respectable four stars by including various driver aids as standard; a point that is especially important in larger vehicles, due to the greater potential threat they pose to cyclists and pedestrians.
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