Euro NCAP Says BMW 3-Series Is the Safest Large Family Car

Nowadays, having a five-star safety rating doesn't put you ahead of the competition. This is especially true in the premium segment, where ten airbags are not uncommon.

We already knew that BMW's new 3-Series is among the safest cars out there, but further confirmation of the Bavarian model came today when Euro NCAP said it was Best in Class for the Large Family Car category. To earn this, the F30 3-Series earned a score of 95 percent in adult occupant protection, 84 percent in child occupant and 86 percent in safety assist technology.

The 3 Series scored maximum points for its protection of the 18 month infant, and lost only a fraction of a point for protection of the 3 year old.

In the case of a pedestrian impact, the BMW 3-Series’ construction could save lives, as Euro NCAP tests showed good protection for the bumper and the front edge of the bonnet.

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New Renault Clio Named Safest Supermini by Euro NCAP

Renault was the first carmaker to really put an emphasis on the crash worthiness of even its cheapest and smallest cars.

Models like the Megane or Clio built their reputation on the fact that they received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, and while other manufactures have followed their model, Renault seems to have kept its edge.

The independent European safety body Euro NCAP has today announced 2012 top choices for safety and the recommended vehicles in their class. And surprise, surprise, the Clio is the best supermini.

This means that the car performed well in all the categories that are taken into consideration adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist systems.

If you'd like to know more about the Euro NCAP crash tests involving the Clio IV, you can read our previous post.

Editor's note: The Kia Rio (92%), VW Polo (90%) and Ford Fiesta (91%) all performed better than the Clio (88%) in adult occupant protection. It's not like they're not safe, right?

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This is the Qoros GQ3

We've been calling it the C11, but the new compact sedan from Qoros – the Sino-Israeli joint venture car company – has officially been dubbed GQ3. To be revealed at next year's Geneva Motor Show before going on sale in China in the second half of of 2013, the GQ3 is a C-segment sedan whose selling points are meant to be a spacious interior, lots of technology and five-star crash ratings on the Euro NCAP tests. If you're wondering about the name, each element signifies brand nomenclature: Qoros sedans will all begin with "G," the letter "Q" stands for the company and will feature in every car's name, and the number is the segment, "3" representing compacts.

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