Euro NCAP has awarded five-star ratings to Mazda’s MX-30, the brand’s first electric vehicle, and Honda’s new hybrid-only Jazz.

The Mazda EV delivered a 91% figure for adult occupant protection, thanks to its compatible front-end structure and new far-side restraints

The results are just the third batch of tests to be carried out this year, due to the pandemic.

Despite being heavier than its combustion-engined CX-30 sister, the Mazda EV still delivered a 91% figure for adult occupant protection, thanks to its compatible front-end structure and new far-side restraints. It also scored a figure of 87% for child occupant protection. In the area of safety assist, it was awarded a 73% figure while its score of 68% for vulnerable road users was said to reflect its lack of more advanced functionalities, such as turn-across-path intervention.

Also tested was the Honda Jazz, which now comes solely with a hybrid engine. It scored 87% for adult occupant protection, 83% for child occupant, 80% for vulnerable road users and 76% for safety assist. Euro NCAP noted that it’s fitted with the most up-to-date safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking and an all-new centre-mounted airbag that protects driver and front passenger against injuries in far-side crashes.

Euro NCAP’s secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said: “Both Honda and Mazda are to be congratulated for their commitment to safety and for achieving five-star ratings for their cars. The ratings released to date demonstrate that Euro NCAP’s new 2020 protocols are having a tangible impact on the safety equipment and crash performance of car models in Europe, including the latest electrified vehicles. Industry’s response to consumer ratings remains one the most important drivers for vehicle safety innovation, to the benefit of all road users in Europe.”

Euro NCAP also published a rating for the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, which is based on the 1 Series tested last year; the five-star rating is based on its 2019 protocols. And the Mercedes-Benz EQV, an all-electric version of the V-Class, now shares that vehicle’s 2014 five-star rating.