Last week, Euro NCAP released the results for its highest scoring car in adult occupant protection since Euro NCAP was established over 10 years ago. The Nissan Qashqai, a small family car, received almost maximum points in Euro NCAP's strict front, side impact and pole crash tests as well as a high performance score in the child occupant protection rating.

Euro NCAP's small family car class has seen colourful results over the past year or so, ranging from a two-star strikethrough to some high scoring five-star cars, but until the Qashqai no car had received a full rounded 37 points in the adult occupant protection rating.

Euro NCAP's front and side impact testing verifies the crashworthiness of the vehicle and looks for any injury that may occur to the driver or the passenger from structural deformation of the car and vehicle deceleration as a result of an accident.

The pole test looks at potential injuries to the head.

Euro NCAP secretary general Adrian Hobbs said: "Congratulations Nissan! This is a particularly impressive result for this manufacturer since the Qashqai is a new vehicle in this category. Nissan's last entry into the small family class was in 2001."

Euro NCAP also released new crash test results for the Kia Carens, a small MPV, which received four stars in adult occupant protection, due to its result in the side impact test.

This is the first time Kia presented a vehicle in this class.

The ratings for these cars can be seen in more detail at www.euroncap.com