For the first time, Euro NCAP can now release its top five safest cars of 2009, based on their maximum five star award and their overall score. Top of this list is the Volkswagen Golf VI that was first tested in 2008 under the former rating scheme and was re-released in 2009.

The Honda Insight Hybrid and Toyota Prius, two fuel-efficient vehicles tested in 2009, were second and third respectively in Euro NCAP’s list of safest, crash-tested cars. In fourth place is the Hyundai i20. There are three joint winners for fifth place – the Toyota Avensis, Volvo XC60 and the Opel/Vauxhall Astra. Euro NCAP’s poorest results of the year were achieved by the Suzuki Alto and the Toyota Urban Cruiser, which both received three stars.

1. VW Golf VI
2. Honda Insight
3. Toyota Prius
4. Hyundai i20
5. Toyota Avensis
6. Volvo XC60
7. Opel/Vauxhall Astra

Read the full story on Fleet Directory

Add new tag · Auto · Honda Insight · Suzuki Alto · Toyota · Toyota Avensis · Toyota Prius · Toyota Urban Cruiser · Volkswagen Golf

Twelve cars have made the final cut for the New Zealand car of the year.

They will be judged by more than 30 members of the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild covering print, internet and broadcast media nationwide.

Guild president, John Oxley, says solely all-new models are eligible, and only if they’ve been driven by a majority of voting members, “not just a select few.”

“We stress that our members vote just on cars they have road tested in their home environment in NewZealand, in conditions they are used to driving everyday.”

Oxley says the award’s strengths are that voting members have experienced these cars in the conditions in which their buyers will drive them, and that the size of the voting panel means a wide range of buyer demographic is covered.

The shortlist – selected by a Guild committee from all new models launched in NZ in the 12 months prior to November 1 – includes the Alfa Romeo MiTo, the Audi Q5, BMW 7 Series, Ford Fiesta, Kia Soul, Mercedes E-class, Mazda3, Nissan Qashqai, Subaru Legacy/Outback, Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco and Volvo XC60.

Read more at NZ Herald

Alfa Romeo MiTo · Audi Q5 · BMW 7 Series · Mercedes-Benz E-Class · New Zealand · Oceania · Volkswagen Golf · Volvo XC60