Euro NCAP has released its latest batch of safety ratings, this time covering four new vehicles. While the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi A6 each achieved the maximum five-star rating, the Ford Tourneo Connect registered four stars.
The new Suzuki Jimny, meanwhile, had to settle for three stars.
The safety authority said the A6 and Touareg scored particularly well for vulnerable road-user protection, including meeting the new requirements for cyclist-detecting autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
The Ford Tourneo Connect panel van, meanwhile, enjoyed a solid performance as it comes equipped with AEB and lane support as standard in Europe, which is unusual for commercial models.
The Suzuki Jimny’s three-star rating was largely thanks to what Euro NCAP described as “its underwhelming driver assistance systems”. While the little off-roader scored 73 percent for adult occupant protection and 84 percent for child occupant protection, it could muster just 52 percent for vulnerable road-user protection and 50 percent for its safety assistance technology.
“The Suzuki Jimny’s performance in testing betrays its ostensibly rugged exterior. As a completely new vehicle, it should offer far more protection to drivers in the event of an accident,” said Matthew Avery, director of research, Thatcham Research, a Euro NCAP member.
“Its safety technology did not perform optimally either. The youthful audience the Suzuki Jimny has been designed for deserve better in terms of passive and active safety,” he added.
Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, added that “overall, these latest results demonstrate that, as Euro NCAP’s test protocols evolve and become more demanding, a five-star rating remains an achievable although challenging objective for the auto industry”.
Watch the four crash test videos below…
