Volvo V40 sets new Euro NCAP safety record

The 2012 Volvo V40 has set a new safety record as the all-time top scorer in its segment following the latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests.

The V40 recorded a full five-star rating, with an adult occupancy protection score of 98%, a child occupancy rating of 75%, a pedestrian protection grade of 88% and a maximum 100% result in the safety assist category.

First Drive: Volvo V40 (2012 onwards)

World’s first pedestrian airbag from Volvo

The V40 boasts a new feature fitted as standard to the range – the pedestrian airbag. A world first, the vehicle can deploy this airbag at the base of the windscreen to cushion a pedestrian’s impact with the vehicle.

This protects them from hard, non-deformable areas of the car, such as the A-pillars and engine block.

Sensors in the bumper activate the new technology upon impact with a pedestrian, ‘popping up’ the rear of the bonnet by four inches and allowing the airbag to inflate.

The car’s pedestrian impact protection score of 88% is the best performance ever in this area, and along with the V40’s strong results in the other categories of the test, puts the car as the all-time overall top scorer for a “small family car”.

Ford’s new B-MAX was also noted for its strong safety performance in the latest round of Euro NCAP testing.

The MPV features sliding rear doors with no B-pillar (the stanchion that usually separates the front and rear doors) giving good access to the rear of the cabin.

Instead, the B-pillar is integrated into the front and rear doors, forming a central post when the doors are shut.

The standardised 50kph (31mph) Euro NCAP side impact crash test found that passenger safety was “uncompromised”, with the B-MAX scoring an excellent adult occupant protection rating of 92%.

The latest generation Renault Clio (as yet unreleased), Kia Cee’d and Audi A3 also scored five stars in Euro NCAP’s testing, with the trio of hatchbacks recording “significantly improved pedestrian protection amongst other notable improvements compared to their respective predecessors.”

On Bing: see images of the Volvo V40

First Drive: Ford B-MAX (2012 onwards)

On Bing: see images of the Ford B-MAX