Nissan X-Trail awarded top Euro NCAP rating

* Nissan X-Trail's top rating matches scores for Hyundai Santa Fe and Honda CR-V * Citroen C4 Cactus gets four stars * Mercedes-Benz V-Class awarded five stars...

Nissan X-Trail awarded top Euro NCAP rating

The latest Euro NCAP crash test results have been announced.

The Nissan X-Trail was awarded a maximum five-star rating while the Citroen C4 Cactus got four stars. The Mercedes-Benz V-Class also achieved five stars.

The X-Trail’s crash-avoidance systems such as the autonomous emergency braking and lane-departure warning ensured the small SUV scored well in the safety assist section of the test, but its strongest rating came in the adult occupant protection section.

The five-star rating matches that of its rivals, the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Honda CR-V, which gained their top ratings in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

With a credible four stars, the Citroen C4 Cactus - a What Car? favourite when we drove it earlier this year - got impressive scores for its adult, child and pedestrian safety tests, but was marked down for its lack of standard safety systems. It also beats the three-star rating awarded to the Renault Megane hatch in the same small family car class.

Also achieving five Euro NCAP stars in the latest results was the V-Class. The MPV scored highly in all criteria, beating the Volkswagen T5's four-star rating from 2013.

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