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  Toyota Prius has passed the Euro NCAP crash test with a grand total of 5-stars. Photo Gallery

Economy and safety can go hand-in-hand.

Green cars have scored maximum ratings in the latest European crash tests. The Euro NCAP gave seven out of the eight cars tested a full five stars, including the petrol-electric hybrid Honda Insight and Toyota Prius 3. The latest results show that good fuel economy need not stand in the way of a high level of safety performance.

Euro NCAP also commended these hybrid vehicles for their pedestrian scores that not only fulfil Euro NCAP's current five star requirements, but already meet the organisation's challenging 2012 targets.

Pedestrian protection has not been a big priority for carmakers. Last year only 25 per cent of the cars tested by NCAP achieved more than two stars for pedestrian protection.

However with the introduction of a new regulation in Europe this year that is changing, according to Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen. "The technology and know-how is out there for carmakers to deliver vehicles with better pedestrian protection," he said. "Honda and Toyota are giving us a glimpse of the cars of the future that consider the natural and social environment in its entirety."

Euro NCAP’s top scorers with five star results are the Honda Insight, Kia Sorento, Renault Grand Scenic, Skoda Yeti (compact off-roader arriving her in mid-2010), Subaru Legacy (called Liberty in Australia), Toyota Prius 3 and the Volkswagen Polo. The Citroen C3 scored four stars because electronic stability control is only available on some variants in the model range in Europe.

The two French cars - Grand Scenic and the C3 have also introduced a driver-controlled speed limitation system as standard on some variants and as an option on others. These systems assist the driver to maintain the safest speed according to the driving environment.

Some manufacturers have responded quickly to Euro NCAPs call for better whiplash protection. Insight, Sorento and Yeti have seats and head restraints that offer good whiplash protection. In contrast, the whiplash protection offered by the Citroen C3 was found to be poor.