The latest round of testing for the Euro NCAP has taken place with results at either end of the star system.

Euro NCAP releases the test results of two new cars. The BMW 5 Series gets a top five-star safety rating and FIAT’s made-over Doblò gets three stars.

Launched late last year, the seventh-generation BMW 5 Series continues its successful track record in Euro NCAP’s Executive Car segment. 

The car showed good all-round performance in crash protection and avoidance tests thanks to its new platform, body and updated safety features. 

Track tests demonstrated that the autonomous braking system can effectively assist the driver in avoiding or mitigating critical rear-end crashes with other cars and pedestrians. 

With an 81 percent score, the 5-series particularly impressed in pedestrian safety through its standard-fit “Person Warning” system and active bonnet.

Thirteen years after the tests on the original FIAT Doblò, Euro NCAP has taken another look at the versatile small MPV. The latest generation Doblò was already introduced in 2010 and is also sold by Opel and Vauxhall brands as Combo. 

The version tested by Euro NCAP is the 2015 Doblò facelift that includes, apart from small safety updates, cosmetic upgrades aimed at extending the lifecycle of the car. 

The three-star Euro NCAP safety rating, however, reveals the car’s true age and highlights the lack of ambition to compete on safety with other, more modern competitors in the segment. 

The Opel/Vauxhall Combo has not received a similar facelift, so would be expected to end up with even fewer stars, but Opel have their eyes fixed on the future.

EURO NCAP Awards five stars to the Subaru Outback.

• New Outback scores highly across the board
• ‘Eyesight’ driver assist system to debut

Subaru Europe nv/sa, the European subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd today announced that the new Subaru Outback (2.0D 'EyeSight', LHD, European specifications) has been awarded the highest five-star rating by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP)* for its 2014 overall safety performance test.

While Subaru vehicles have also received numerous awards for their safety performances from other authoritative bodies, the 2014 rating reflects the performance of the new Outback against Euro NCAP’s latest requirements.

The new Outback scored highly in all four key areas of adult occupant protection (85%), child occupant protection (87%), pedestrian protection (70%) and safety assist, as well as achieving maximum points in the side impact barrier test, with good protection of all critical body areas.

Tests on the front seats and head restraints, and a geometric assessment of the rear restraints, indicated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision. Moreover, the Outback scored maximum points for its protection of the 18-month dummy in the dynamic crash tests. The bumper provided good protection to pedestrians' legs in all areas tested.

Multiple airbags feature in the new car including in the front, knee, side and curtain airbags. Subaru’s VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) is standard on all models. The body structure benefits from further advancements in Subaru’s “ring-shaped reinforcement frame body” while the  use of high tensile steel plates has also been increased.

Subaru's highly developed 'EyeSightⁱ' autonomous braking system which utilises advanced stereo cameras, will debut in Europe on the new model. The system incorporates multiple driver assist features and contributes to making new Outback one of the safest cars in its class.  

Since Subaru pioneered the crossover concept back in 1995, the Outback has been acclaimed world-wide for its combination of superior driveability and ride quality, while the unique Symmetrical AWD (All-Wheel Drive) bestows both on road balance and traction and the ability to venture off-road where others would fear to tread.

The new Subaru Outback goes on sale in the UK in Spring.

EURO NCAP Awards five stars to the new Land Rover Discovery Sport.

• Discovery Sport achieves maximum safety rating following rigorous tests
• First Land Rover to feature all-new safety features, such as Pedestrian Airbag and Autonomous Emergency Braking System

The Land Rover Discovery Sport has been awarded the maximum five star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

Discovery Sport features a number of cutting-edge safety features, such as an all-new pedestrian airbag which is a first in the small-SUV segment. This feature deploys from the upper-rear surface of the bonnet within 60 milliseconds upon detection of a pedestrian impact to reduce the risk of serious pedestrian injury.

Another first for Land Rover is the Autonomous Emergency Braking system, which uses a digital stereo camera mounted next to the rear view mirror to detect objects that could pose a collision threat, delivering visual and audible warnings and automatically applying the brakes if a collision is imminent.

All seating positions are assessed to ensure a high standard of occupant protection for people of all ages, including young children. Even in the third row, retractor pretensioners are fitted as standard for enhanced protection.

Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programmes, said: “The vehicle safety team worked tirelessly to ensure that the Discovery Sport delivered levels of safety never before seen in the small SUV segment. We have introduced some cutting edge safety technologies such as the all-new pedestrian airbag and an innovative Autonomous Emergency Braking system, in addition to our tried-and-tested Land Rover safety systems.

“All of our products are tested to stringent in-house safety standards that go significantly beyond the legal and consumer testing standards. As a family vehicle, safety was really a key motivator when designing this car. We are proud to have made no compromises on this.”

The Discovery Sport also features a full suite of active and passive safety systems, including Dynamic Stability Control, Electronic Traction Control, Roll Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking Systems, Reverse Traffic Detection, Emergency Brake Lights, Lane Departure Warning and Seatbelt Reminders. Optional features also include Blind Spot Monitoring with Closing Vehicle Sensing, Active Speed Limiting and Reverse Traffic Detection.

The new compact SUV features a rigid, high-strength steel and boron body shell, with a roof that will support more than 4.5 times the vehicle weight. Discovery Sport also has a comprehensive occupant safety package including driver and passenger airbags, driver knee airbag, and side curtain and thorax airbags.