• Euro NCAP announces first five-star cars of 2012
• Safety testing stricter than ever
• Jeep Compass performs badly

Crash safety organisation Euro NCAP has released results of the first cars tested under the new, more stringent safety criteria for 2012.

The Honda Civic was singled out for particular praise. It was awarded the maximum five-star rating and scored highly in each area of assessment, but particularly in the Safety Assist category which considers a car’s electronic safety devices. As well as the now ubiquitous Electronic Stability Control, the Civic stood out for its Collision Mitigation Brake System, which uses radar to detect obstacles and apply the brakes if it considers a collision to be imminent.

Other cars tested last year, but that meet criteria for a five-star award in 2012 include the BMW 1 Series, BMW X1, Ford Focus, Ford Ranger, Mercedes M Class, Nissan LEAF, Subaru XV and Volvo V60.

Under the new rules, for a car to score five stars it needs to score an overall 80 per cent, while at the same time scoring 80 per cent in the Adult Protection category, 75 per cent in Child Protection, 60 per cent in Pedestrian Protection and 60 per cent in Safety Assist. This is much stricter than in previous years, particularly for pedestrian protection, in which a car could be awarded five stars having just scored 25 per cent.

The Jeep Compass fared badly when put up against the new tests, scoring just two stars. Despite being equipped with optional side thorax airbags it offered poor levels of occupant protection, particularly in the side-impact pole test. It also scored a low 23 per cent for pedestrian protection – well below par for the Compact SUV segment.

Euro NCAP Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen said: “The results published today show clearly that a five-star these days means a lot more than a five-star some years ago. Many car makers have moved on and so have we. Cars based on older technology, brushed up and marketed as new are not providing the same levels of safety as the newest models. Consumers interested in a fair comparison will not be fooled by these results.”

By Daljinder Nagra

Own one of the cars newly rated by Euro NCAP?