Latest Euro NCAP results

While Citroen’s C6 was the first car to be awarded the maximum four stars for pedestrian safety, the Jeep Grand Cherokee scored zero points.

Jeep occupants fare better with four star adult protection and three stars for child protection.

The C6 achieved its maximum pedestrian safety rating due to a new ‘pop-up’ bonnet which detects when a pedestrian has been struck and gives greater clearance between the bonnet and the rigid parts of the engine.

It is the first system of its type to be assessed by Euro NCAP but it is expected that other similar systems will be introduced soon.

The executive-sized car was also awarded five stars for adult occupant protection and four stars for child protection.

The Chevrolet Matiz received a struck-through three-star rating for adult occupant protection. The strike-through indicates an unacceptably high risk of life-threatening injury in one aspect of the car’s performance, in this case chest protection in side impact.

The Matiz lags behind other superminis whose results were also released today, notably the Fiat Punto and the Toyota Yaris, both of which were awarded the maximum five stars for adult occupant protection.

The Matiz was also the only car tested in this phase that did not have a seat-belt reminder system as standard.

Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: "In terms of pedestrian safety these results graphically illustrate the vast difference between the best and the worst. We need more innovation in pedestrian safety and Citroen has shown how to achieve it.

"By achieving the maximum stars for both occupant and pedestrian protection, Citroen has shown that pedestrian safety does not have to be compromised to make the car safer for its occupants".

Euro NCAP results summary: