AUTOMOTIVE

Volvo and Ford keep pace with Euro NCAP’s safety challenge

Today, Euro NCAP releases the safety ratings of two new cars. Both Volvo’s new small off-roader, the XC40, and the latest version of Ford’s small family car, the Focus, achieve a maximum five-star rating. The XC40 scored 97 percent for adult occupant protection, putting it amongst the top five cars for this aspect of safety tested by Euro NCAP in the last three years[1].

But it is in the area of active safety and Vulnerable Road User protection that both cars impress 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.