• 

  The Kia Sportage (pictured) was the outstanding performer in the small off-road 4?4 category.

The Euro NCAP crash test results for 2010 are in ...

A HYBRID sportscar, a model from the past, a Korean SUV, a luxury saloon and a car we won't get in Australia are the top performers in European safety tests.

Euro NCAP has announced the highest-scoring vehicles of 2010 in five categories. They are:

-  Honda CR-Z (supermini category)
-  Alfa Romeo Giulietta (small family)
-  Kia Sportage (off-road)
-  BMW 5 Series (executive)
-  Toyota Verso (small MPV).

These vehicles not only scored a maximum five stars, but also scored high in four areas of assessment, exceeding the thresholds for a five-star overall rating.

The CR-Z hybrid sportscar is set for release this year, the Guilietta - a resurrected name of Alfa's past - has just been released here, the sixth-generation 5 Series is now complete with the introduction of a wagon, the Sportage was second in the Carsguide Car of the Year and Toyoa Australia says they have no plans to nitroduce the Verso.

Other top performers sold in Australia include the Suzuki Swift, BMW X1 and Citroen C4 which exceeded 80 per cent in overall scoring.

The worst results were achieved by two vehicles not imported into Australia; the three-star Citroen Nemo and two-star Landwind CV9 SUV from China.

Last year, Euro NCAP crash tested 29 vehicles, 65 per cent of which reached the five-star rating, compared with 90 per cent in 2009.

Euro NCAP boss Michiel van Ratingen says the 25 per cent decrease illustrates their criteria.

"The presence in these categories of high-performing five-star cars demonstrates car manufacturers' commitment to safety for all sizes of vehicles," he says.

Euro NCAP now also tests electronic stability control tests which from January 1 became mandatory in all vehicles sold in Victoria and is largely standard throughout vehicles sold across the nation.