Euro NCAP has released its latest safety ratings, including for the new SEAT Ibiza, which sets “a new benchmark in safety for the supermini price point category”, according to Thatcham Research.

New SEAT Ibiza.

The results saw the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Hyundai i30, Opel Insignia, SEAT Ibiza and VW Arteon all awarded a maximum five-star rating, with four stars for Honda’s new Civic and a three-star rating for the facelifted Ford Mustang.

Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham Research, said the Ibiza had seen a standout performance and added: “The Ibiza not only comes with standard-fit AEB but also Pedestrian AEB – which is proven to reduce vulnerable road user deaths.

“The new VW Polo will be built on the same platform as the Ibiza which bodes well and with major new Supermini launches expected later in 2017, the safety game is now on for carmakers in this category.”

Ford’s retest of the Mustang follows an unfavourable safety rating earlier this year and the carmaker’s subsequent addition of standard-fit Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and a Lane Keeping Aid, while rapidly addressing a ‘bottoming-out’ issue with the driver’s airbag.

The Honda Civic was awarded a four-star rating despite having standard-fit AEB, due in part due to the head of the rear passenger dummy that represents a 10-year-old recording a hard impact through the curtain airbag.