The results of the latest round of EuroNCAP crash tests have been released, and while there is a positive glut of cars achieving the full five-star rating for safety, there is one major disappointment for an up-and-coming brand.
The five-star cars were – deep breath – Fiat 500 L, Ford Fiesta, Ford Kuga, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mercedes A-Class, Mitsubishi Outlander, Opel Mokka, Range Rover, Seat Leon, Seat Toledo, Skoda Rapid, Subaru Forester, Volvo V60 Plugin Hybrid and Volkswagen Golf.
So who’s lagging behind?
Dacia, whose seven-seat Lodgy MPV scored only three stars and was accused by EuroNCAP of “budgeting on safety”. A 72 per cent adult safety rating is well behind the class best, although its 77 per cent child-safety rating is more on par. The decision not to fit the car with standard electronic stability control saw the Lodgy get marked down.
EuroNCAP secretary general Dr Michiel van Ratingen said, “Euro NCAP believes that occupants’ safety should be paramount, regardless of how much they pay for their vehicle.”