THE results of the first ever European crash testing programme - sponsored by the Department of Transport, Swedish Government, the FIA, AA and RAC - have showed wide differences between the levels of passenger protection offered by seven popular superminis.

The tests involved 40mph off set frontal collisions and 30mph side impact crashes. They will be followed by testing of lower medium cars and upper medium cars at six monthly intervals over the next 18 months.

TRL awarded three stars to the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo; two stars to the Fiat Punto, Nissan Micra, Renault Clio, and Vauxhall Corsa; and one star to the Rover 100. Head of crash worthiness Adrian Hobbs stressed that none of the cars had 'failed' the tests. An EC spokesman said the question of Euro funding for future crash tests was under active consideration.