Euro NCAP results for Nine new models released just before the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Good crashworthiness and improved availability of front crash prevention systems resulted in top ratings in latest round of Euro NCAP’s tests ahead of the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. 

Out of nine new models released this month, seven earn the top rating of five stars and two earn a rating of four stars.

The luxury SUV’s Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7 went at it head-to-head. Both aced Euro NCAP’s latest crashworthiness requirements, but it was the XC90 that made the biggest impression by earning full marks in the crash avoidance and driver assistance tests. 

The top ratings for the VW Touran and Ford's Galaxy and S-MAX MPV siblings are good news for families with kids, offering at least two rear seating positions compliant with the latest i-Size standard for child restraints as standard. The list of top achievers is completed with Renault Kadjar and the new Toyota Avensis, both delivering an excellent safety performance across the board.

Good occupant protection still is the back bone of a top rating in Euro NCAP, but the availability and performance of avoidance and driver support systems, that will ultimately pave the way for highly automated vehicles, is becoming increasingly important. The Mazda CX-3 and the pick-up Mitsubishi L200 offer good overall safety but are rated 4 stars as the L200 is not fitted with autonomous emergency braking system, while the Mazda CX-3 offers AEB as an option but with an expected low uptake.

The Last set of Euro NCAP results for 2014, 2 x 5 stars, and 2 x 4 stars.

Euro NCAP is releasing the last set of safety ratings for this year, which includes the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, the Jeep Renegade, the Kia Soul and Kia Soul EV.

The Jeep Renegade and the hybrid Audi A3 Sportback e-tron both met Euro NCAP's requirements for a maximum five star rating. Both cars offer excellent all-round crash protection and have an autonomous emergency braking system available as an option.

The Kia Soul and its all-electric stablemate the Soul EV both fell short of the maximum rating, scoring four stars apiece. The conventionally-engined Soul offered weak chest protection in the side pole test. Nevertheless, Kia believes that this performance is an improvement on cars from early production and has committed to install the current-production side airbag in earlier vehicles. Euro NCAP encourages all customers who are contacted by Kia to have their cars updated in order to reinforce the protection available in side impacts. The Soul EV is not affected.

To end the year, BMW earns a Euro NCAP Advanced reward for the Pedestrian Warning with City Brake Activation, an advanced technology designed to help avoid or mitigate accidents with pedestrians at low speeds. The system is available on various models including the BMW 2 Series, BMW i3 and MINI Cooper. In addition to the AEB city and AEB interurban systems already rewarded in the rating scheme, Euro NCAP will give credit from 2016 to vehicles equipped with AEB pedestrian systems.