Crash-tests: Fiat, Kia, Peugeot, Renault

• Superminis: new Fiat 500 and Renault Twingo
• Small family cars: Peugeot 308 and Kia Cee'd
• 'Not enough room' for child seats in Twingo

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Europe's car testing body, Euro NCAP, has tested four important new cars in the supermini and small family car sectors.

The new Fiat 500 and Renault Twingo were the latest superminis to undergo testing, with the Fiat 500 doing particularly well.

In the small family car market, the Kia 'd and Peugeot 308 were also tested.

Superminis
The 500 managed a maximum five stars for adult occupant protection and three out of five stars for child protection. It also gained two out of four stars for pedestrian protection.

Although the rival Renault Twingo managed identical results for pedestrian protection, it could only manage four out of five stars for adult occupant protection.

However, the real cause for concern was the child occupant protection rating - Euro NCAP wasn't able to assess it for this.

This was because there wasn't enough space to fit Renault's recommended child restraints in the rear seats when the front seats were set to Euro NCAP's test position for adults.

Small family cars
The Kia 'd won five stars for its role in protecting adults - the first time Kia has ever won a five-star rating.

The Cee'd also gained four out of five for protecting children, and two out of four for pedestrians.

The Peugeot 308, which goes on sale on September 20, did even better - it matched the Kia's results for adult and child protection, but gained three out of four stars for pedestrian protection.