Under the tests, the Jeep Renegade and the hybrid Audi A3 Sportback e-tron both scored the full five stars, with Euro NCAP noting that they offer excellent all-round crash protection and has an autonomous emergency braking system available as an option. 

However, the Kia Soul EV and the conventionally powered Soul both fell short of the maximum rating, scoring four stars apiece.

Euro NCAP said that the conventionally engined Soul offered weak chest protection in the side pole test. Nevertheless, Kia believes that this performance is an improvement on cars from early production and has committed to install the current-production side airbag in earlier vehicles. Euro NCAP encourages all customers who are contacted by Kia to have their cars updated in order to reinforce the protection available in side impacts.

The Soul EV is not affected by this but in its ratings but Euro NCAP noted that: ‘In the more severe side pole test, dummy readings of rib compression indicated weak protection for the chest area. The front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injury in the event of a rear-end collision while a geometric assessment of the rear restraints indicated marginal whiplash protection.’

To end the year, BMW earns a Euro NCAP Advanced reward for the Pedestrian Warning with City Brake Activation, an advanced technology designed to help avoid or mitigate accidents with pedestrians at low speeds. The system is available on various models including the BMW 2 Series, BMW i3 and MINI Cooper.

In addition to the AEB city and AEB interurban systems already rewarded in the rating scheme, Euro NCAP will give credit from 2016 to vehicles equipped with AEB pedestrian systems.