THE MINI Cooper and Peugeot 207CC have achieved maximum scores for adult occupant protection in the latest round of crash tests.

Carried out by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), the two superminis were each awarded five stars for adult occupant protection.

A Euro NCAP spokesman said: ‘BMW has upped the level of safety for adult occupants in the new MINI Cooper since the last model version of the car was tested in 2002.

‘The Peugeot 207CC also reveals that it is not a car just designed to embellish the driving experience, but also that it is a safe car for adults.’

However, both cars were criticised for gaining a ‘poor’ two-star score in pedestrian protection.