Euro NCAP has awarded the 2018 Mazda6 D-segment car a five star rating – the first vehicle by the manufacturer to receive the maximum score in the new, more stringent safety test.

Of the four test categories involved in the Euro NCAP ratings - adult occupant, child occupant, vulnerable road user (pedestrian safety) and safety assist, the new Mazda6 bettered or equalled three out of four scores achieved by its predecessor in 2013.

The new Mazda6's adult occupation score improved 3% to 95%, with maximum points scored for frontal impacts with a stationary car, and both side barrier and side pole impacts.

The child occupant score rose 14% to 91%, with maximum points scored in both frontal and lateral impact categories.

A score of 66% in vulnerable road user (pedestrian safety) matches that of the outgoing model, with the new Mazda6 scoring 73% in the safety assist category.