These question don't have to be asked thanks to one company, The European New Car Assessment Programme (aka. EuroNCAP) The company that over the years built the reputation as a dominant group for safety assessments. Based in Belgium, its is responsible for several countries vehicle assessments in Europe and even expanded into other foreign countries like South Africa and even backed by seven european governments.
Every year they come out with long and boring statistics for the new safest cars in different categories and as you might have seen, I said boring cause well that's what they are.. boring but that doesn't change the fact that the roads are just not safe any more, South Africa or aboard. It is estimated 40 people die everyday on south african roads, a number that should scare you. By this reason, it is so important to be careful on the road but being careful just isn't enough. You need a safe car and thanks to euroNCAP, they show you what's safe, with over 5 different safety tests they evaluate the cars ever reaction and cripple. So to the point, their ratings are important to insure a safe trip.
Their are 5 categories, and euroNCAP recently released the safest cars of 2011/2012 in each category, So here they are. Drum role please...
Small off-road 4×4 category: Audi Q3
(Not released in S.A. yet)
Supermini category: Chevrolet Aveo
Small Family category: Ford Focus
Small MPV category: Mercedes B Class
Large Family category: Volvo V60
Some Manufactures where not just praised for their cars safety but their innovations in 2011. The Ford Focus was praised for its Active City Stop, Driver Alert Ford Alert and Lane Keeping Aid tech
Mercedes' B-Class and Volvo's V60 were recognised for their Collision Prevention Assist and City Safety tech respectively. Both systems are Autonomous Emergency Braking systems (AEB) - preventing you from hitting another human or just backing up into something.
This year the Euro NCAP test is set to get harder to ensure that manufacturers are still at the top of their safety game.
Remember, drive safely and be careful on the roads!
Cristiano V
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