The Mini Countryman and Skoda Kodiaq have been given five-star NCAP safety rating in the latest safety test results.

While the Mini and the Skoda were awarded a five-star rating, the standard Nissan Micra was awarded four and the Suzuki Swift was given three.

All cars achieved five stars for adult, child and pedestrian protection. However, differences were noted in the fitment of advanced driver assistance systems.

The Kodiaq is one of many recently tested models from the manufacturer to be rated five stars. The Mini has AEB car-to-car as standard and pedestrian detection as an option. The optional safety pack on the  Micra includes AEB pedestrian and lane assistance and would boost the rating to five stars. The Swift is the only model to not offer AEB pedestrian, but does offer car-to-car in its additional ‘radar brake support’ pack.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP secretary general, said: “Euro NCAP started rewarding AEB pedestrian systems last year and we have seen a rapid uptake of the technology.  We hope to see as fast an adoption of AEB systems that detect cyclists when tests of those systems form part of the rating next year. 

“For 20 years, Euro NCAP has been pushing manufacturers to fit new and better safety technologies: originally, such things as airbags and pre-tensioners and, nowadays, advanced driver assistance systems that will form the building blocks for the automated vehicles of tomorrow.”

Image: Suzuki Swift following its Euro NCAP crash test