Euro NCAP has published the safety ratings of eight new vehicles: the Volvo XC60 in the large off-road category; the VW T-Roc, Skoda Karoq and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross in the small off-road category; the Citroën C3 Aircross and Opel Crossland X small MPV category; and two superminis – the new VW Polo and the SEAT Ibiza’s partner, the Arona. All cars achieve a maximum five-star rating. The passenger compartment of the Crossland X remained stable in the frontal offset test. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both driver and passenger. Opel showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions. In the full-width rigid-barrier test, protection of the chest of the rear passenger was rated as marginal, based on dummy readings of compression but, otherwise, protection of both dummies was good or adequate. In both the side barrier test and the more severe side pole impact, protection of all critical body areas was good and the car scored maximum points. Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injury in the event of a rear-end collision. However, the rear head restraints could not be adjusted high enough and whiplash protection here was rated as poor. An autonomous emergency braking system is available as an option but, as it is an option, it is not included in this assessment.
