Euro NCAP has published the safety ratings of eight new vehicles: Volvo XC60, Volkswagen T-Roc, Škoda Karoq, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Citroën C3 Aircross, Vauxhall Crossland X, Volkswagen Polo and Seat Arona.

All cars achieved a maximum five-star rating.

The new XC60 becomes the best all-round performer of 2017 so far and matches the performance of the XC90, tested in 2015. It achieved an almost-perfect 98% in adult occupant protection, a figure only ever achieved by one other car - the Alfa Romeo Giulia. 

But safety is not confined to the higher end of the market. The subcompact hatchback is Europe’s highest-selling segment and manufacturers have been keen to add high-tech to their latest offerings. The new Polo joins the Nissan Micra, Ford Fiesta and Seat Ibiza amongst the ranks of recently-tested superminis to feature a whole host of driver assistance features, including standard-fit autonomous emergency braking. The Arona, a partner of the Ibiza, shares that car’s impressive safety specification and is also rewarded with a five-star rating.

Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, said: “It is great to see the likes of Volvo producing cars that get almost-full marks in some areas of our tests, and it demonstrates why Euro NCAP has to keep adapting its requirements.

“Next year will see new tests and even tougher requirements for five stars. But it is the high-selling mass-market vehicles that will really influence road safety in the future and manufacturers are to be congratulated for democratising safety by making high-tech safety assistance available on their superminis.”

Detailed results and crash test pictures are published on the Euro NCAP website.