(July 18, 2018) Both Volvo’s new small crossover, the XC40, and the latest version of Ford’s small family car, the Focus, achieved a maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP safety tests. The XC40 scored 97 percent for adult occupant protection, putting it among the top five cars for this aspect of safety tested in the last three years.

But it is in the area of active safety and Vulnerable Road User protection that both cars impressed the most. Both XC40 and the Focus are equipped with an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system that detects cyclists as well as pedestrians. The Volvo also has emergency lane keeping (ELK) technology that acts in emergency situations to help stop the car leaving the road or from being steered into the path of oncoming traffic.

“It’s good to see that manufacturers, both in the premium sector and the volume market, are responding to our tough new requirements introduced in 2018 by fitting technologies that will save lives," the testing organization noted.

“Technologies like AEB and ELK deliver immediate safety benefits but they are also enabling technologies for the autonomous vehicles of the future. Euro NCAP’s roadmap sets a series of demanding tests for each of these ‘milestone’ technologies seeking to ensure that their performance saves lives today as well as tomorrow.”