The recently launched Suzuki Vitara has just been awarded a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.
It becomes the first compact SUV to be awarded the much sought after accolade in 2015 since the test became more rigorous. Euro NCAP, which is an independent body, tests vehicles in four key areas of safety; adult occupant, child occupant, pedestrian and safety assist.
In these areas, the Vitara scored well above the minimum requirement for a five-star rating with 89 per cent for the adult occupant and 75 per cent for safety assist. It also scored highly in relation to the child occupant with 85 per cent and a 76 per cent rating for pedestrian protection. The latter two areas is something that Suzuki claims it had paid particular attention to when designing the new car.
Anything else?
The five-star rating will come as welcome news to Suzuki following the lowly three-star Euro NCAP rating for its small five-door hatchback, the Celerio. Its lower score was because of the side impact test, but in Suzuki's defence, the car tested, in accordance with Euro NCAP regulations, was the most basic model sold. This model did not feature curtain airbags; however, the GL+ and GLX versions that are sold in Ireland do feature these curtain airbags as standard, something according to the Euro NCAP report would result in the car receiving a four-star rating.