Surprise Euro NCAP results released

THE BEST cars in class for safety have been announced by Euro NCAP - and there are some surprise results.

Although not on sale in the UK yet, the Chinese-built Qoros 3 Sedan was the safest car tested by Euro NCAP all year. It is also the first car built in China to ever gain a five-star score in the tough crash tests of Euro NCAP.

The best supermini for safety is the battery-powered Renault Zoe, while the Lexus IS300h topped the Large Family class.

The Kia Carens and Ford Tourneo Connect took joint honours in the MPV class, while the Jeep Cherokee performed best in the small off-road 4x4 sector.

Maserati topped the executive class with its new Ghibli saloon.

For the latest tests in 2013, Euro NCAP made its tests tougher for child occupant protection and awarded points to manufacturers that made easy to install the most popular types of child seat.

Euro NCAP has also started to test emergency braking and lane departure warning systems.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General, said: "The decision to reward collision avoidance technologies on new cars will encourage more widespread fitment and further improve the safety of all road users in Europe.

"We hope this will allow consumers to choose the very safest vehicles in 2014 and beyond."

By Press Association reporter