VIDEO: Skoda Kodiaq awarded 5-star safety rating

Skoda’s new Kodiaq has been awarded a maximum five star rating in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests. The large SUV achieved full marks in the side-barrier collision offering good protection of allareas at a risk. The Kodiaq continues the Czech brand’s run of good form, as all recently tested Skodas have been rated with five stars. This is thanks in no small part to the fitment of advanced driver assistance features such as the Automatic Emergency Brake system that detects pedestrians as well as other cars.

VIDEO: Fiat 500 and Ford Ka+ offer 'mediocre safety performance’

In the latest round of Euro NCAP’s crash tests, Fiat’s 500 and Ford’s all-new Ka+ scored just three out of five stars apiece. After more than 10 years on the market, the 500 was recently facelifted, but this did little to improve safety, according to a Euro NCAP report which noted poor protection for the driver and rear seat passenger. Fast forward 10 years to Ford’s brand new Ka+, which was described as offering ‘mediocre safety performance’ - lacking the more sophisticated restraint systems offered by most of its rivals, including the Citroën C3 which scored higher marks in the same tests. 

VIDEO: Euro NCAP celebrates 20th Anniversary

Euro NCAP is its marking 20th Anniversary with a crash test comparison of two family cars built two decades apart. A 1997 Rover 100 was tested alongside the latest Honda Jazz, displaying a marked difference in crashworthiness. The Rover, with no crumple zones or safety cell seems to just disintegrate while the Honda is clearly stronger and offers multiple air bags against the Rover’s one. Euro NCAP is confident that safety advances driven by rigorous testing have helped deliver a 63% reduction in the number of car occupants killed or seriously injured.

VIDEO: Ford Mustang scores just 2 stars in Euro NCAP crash test

The current Ford Mustang achieved a lowly two-star rating for overall safety in a series of recent crash tests carried out by Euro NCAP. There are concerns about its crash protection for adult and child occupants with a ‘worrying lack’ of safety equipment commonly available on the European market. Euro NCAP says the driver and passenger airbags inflated insufficiently and noted that the European Mustang does not have the US-spec Forward Collision Warning system. Ford has confirmed its forthcoming facelifted Mustang will feature upgraded safety kit as standard.