Vehicle safety organisation Euro NCAP, is to begin publication of a new overall safety rating for every vehicle. Up to now it had made three separate ratings for each vehicle tested in the areas of: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection and Pedestrian Protection. A new element will also be added to the tests called Safety Assist.

NCAP has also announced a three-year programme that will see the introduction of stricter safety requirements that increase the emphasis on all-round safety performance demanding higher levels of achievement in each area.

Six cars have already been tested under the new system and four models have so far achieved the maximum five star award. These are:

Mazda 6
Mitsubishi Lancer
Toyota Avensis
Toyota iQ.

The Subaru Impreza and the Citroen C3 Picasso achieved four-star ratings.