Volvo smashes opposition

LONDON: Swedish carmaker Volvo has swept aside opposition in recent European crash tests. The Euro NCAP crash tests compared the performance of 13 popular family-sized cars.

Volvo achieved the optimum 4 star rating while Audi, BMW, Citroen, Mercedes, Peugeot, Rover and Saab achieved relatively poor performances of 2 stars.

The test program is under fierce attack from manufacturers claiming that the methodology is flawed.

The frontal impact test comprises a 64kmh crash into a deformable barrier, while the 48kmh side impact test is aimed at the driver's pelvis.