European safety watchdog Euro NCAP has awarded a maximum five-star crash rating to two big new luxury SUVs -- Volvo's freshly launched XC90 and Audi's upcoming Q7 -- but just four stars for Mazda's compact CX-3 crossover and the Mitsubishi L200 ute.
However, the new Mitsubishi Triton, as it's called here, has already achieved a top five-star safety rating from ANCAP in Australia and motoring.com.au understands the CX-3 is also likely to do so following local crash tests.
Underlining the discrepancy between the Euro NCAP and ANCAP scoring regimes, in July the Navara received the five-star rating from ANCAP after a last-minute change to the vehicle's top-tether child-safety seat anchorage points.
However, in Euro NCAP's latest round of crash testing, the L200/Triton was awarded just four stars because it is not available with an autonomous low-speed emergency braking (AEB) system.
The CX-3 was also deemed by Euro NCAP to provide "good overall safety" but also scored just four stars because it "offers AEB as an option but with an expected low uptake".
Mazda's AEB system — known as Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) — is optional across Australia's top-selling CX-3 range as part of a package that also includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which is standard on the CX-3 Akari flagship.
Euro NCAP says its tough new rating system still puts the priority on the occupants of vehicles, but places increasing emphasis on collision-avoidance systems that protect people outside vehicles.
"Good occupant protection still is the backbone of a top rating in Euro NCAP, but the availability and performance of avoidance and driver support systems, that will ultimately pave the way for highly automated vehicles, is becoming increasingly important," it says.
The CX-3 scored 85 per cent for adult occupant protection, 79 per cent for child protection, 84 per cent for pedestrian protection and 64 per cent for 'Safety Assist', while the L200/Navara was rated at 81, 84, 76 and 64 per cent for same respective criteria.
Of the nine new models in Euro NCAP's latest round of testing, two earned four stars and seven were awarded the top five-star rating.
The Q7 and XC90 both received praise for their safety credentials, but the big new Swedish SUV "made the biggest impression by earning full marks in the crash avoidance and driver assistance tests," said Euro NCAP.
The XC90 scored a commendable 97 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child protection, 72 per cent for pedestrian protection and 100 per cent for Safety Assist, while the Q7 attracted 94, 88, 70 and 76 per cent scores respectively.
Also receiving five stars were the Renault Kadjar SUV and the Volkswagen Touran, Toyota Avensis and Ford Galaxy and S-MAX people-movers, none of which are sold in Australia.