Euro NCAP last week released test results for its latest car line-up and in a statement said it was shocked to find that certain manufacturers were still ignoring Euro NCAP's call for stronger safety measures in family cars.

An MPV, the Chrysler Voyager, was again awarded a poor safety score of two stars, with the last star struck through, seven years after it originally received a two-star result.

Euro NCAP first tested a collection of MPVs, including the Voyager, back in 1999. Only two of eight cars received a four-star rating, the maximum available at the time.

In its testing, Euro NCAP noted that MPVs were weaker in frontal impact tests. Consequently, many manufacturers have made great improvements to their vehicles since then, particularly in this area.

Last August, Euro NCAP awarded the Ford S-MAX 36 points and a five-star rating, making it the best performing MPV to date.

However, as the Chrysler Voyager shows, despite this progress, some manufacturers are continuing to sell cars that are little-changed from those tested in 1999.

In last month's results, the right-hand-drive Voyager did not meet the minimum score for a three-star Adult Occupant Protection rating.

The Voyager's results also indicated an unacceptably high risk of serious or fatal injury, resulting in the last star being struck through.

Euro NCAP chairman Claes Tingvall said: "I find it shocking that, in seven years, this manufacturer has not been able to improve the safety of this MPV - a car that is clearly targeting families.

"Still worse is that Chrysler continues to sell this version in the UK while a better equipped and better performing version is available in left-hand-drive across the rest of Europe. I do hope that Chrysler intends to show a greater commitment to safety in the future."

Last week's results also include some disappointing pedestrian protection scores. Again, the Chrysler Voyager is the worst performer, scoring no points at all and being awarded no stars. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, also made by Chrysler, performed equally poorly in 2005.

Mr Tingvall said: "I am continually disappointed by the lack of commitment and effort shown by manufacturers to improve the level of pedestrian protection in their vehicles. This is an area where there are few front-runners and massive room for improvement."

Results released today are in the MPV, Small Off-Roader and Small Family categories.

The ratings for these cars can be seen in more detail at www.euroncap.com. The complete test results were made available on Wednesday.

Summary of results

MPV
Chrysler Voyager
Occupant Protection: 2 stars strikethrough
Child Protection: 4 stars
Pedestrian Protection: 0 stars

Small Off-Roader
Chevrolet Captiva
Occupant Protection: 4 stars
Child Protection: 3 stars
Pedestrian Protection: 2 stars

Small family
Volkswagen Eos
Occupant Protection: 4 stars
Child Protection: 4 stars
Pedestrian Protection: 2 stars

Volvo C30
Occupant Protection: 5 stars
Child Protection: 4 stars
Pedestrian Protection: 1 star