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Euro NCAP, the independent crash test safety expert, has released its latest round of results and a little bit of history has been made. For the first time, a hydrogen fuel cell car has been tested - the Hyundai Nexo - and it has scored a full five-star safety mark.
Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP said: "The fuel cell Nexo and hybrid ES point the way for future powertrains and Euro NCAP will work to ensure that safety performance as well as energy efficiency remains at the top of the manufacturers' agenda.
"This is a satisfying set of solid test results and we are pleased that cars continue to perform well in the AEB tests, including for pedestrians and cyclists. It is very welcome to see manufacturers rising to Euro NCAP's challenge of effective vulnerable road user protection."
The Hyundai scored well in its adult and child crash protection results, and the NCAP testers were complimentary about its autonomous emergency braking system too, saying that: "The AEB system performed well when tested at highway speeds, with collisions avoided or mitigated in most situations."
Other results released in the same batch included the Mercedes-Benz A-Class which, impressively, scored more than 90 per cent for its pedestrian protection rating, one of the first cars to do so. Testers noted that the cars autonomous braking system meant that "collisions [with pedestrians were] avoided in nearly all test scenarios."
The updated Mazda6 scored a full five stars as well, not bad for a car whose basic structure dates back as far as 2012, while the Lexus ES - also a five-star car now - managed a 90 per cent score for pedestrian protection too.
Doing slightly less well were the new Peugeot Rifter, Citroen Berlingo, and Opel Combo, all of which are effectively the same car with different badges. All scored four stars overall, which is not bad, but NCAP warned that the optional third row seats in all cars are not suitable for child safety seats, which may limit their appeal to cost-conscious family buyers.