Hybrids: Environmentally concerned and safe?

Euro NCAP has released the results of two cars in the small family class, the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Skoda Fabia. Neither car received the maximum five-star rating expected in adult occupant protection.

The Honda Civic Hybrid is the second environmentally concerned car that Euro NCAP has tested. Euro NCAP tested the Toyota Prius back in 2004, which received a five-star score in adult occupant protection. Today’s result is hotly anticipated throughout Europe where fleet buyers and consumers are increasingly seeking out cars with lower CO2 emissions and higher safety scores, to benefit from the growing use of tax incentives and to avoid road charging.

Euro NCAP’s Secretary-General Adrian Hobbs said ‘Consumers may be asking themselves whether high safety scores and a hybrid powertrain can go hand in hand. Both Honda and Toyota have shown that they are rising to the challenge in their efforts to meet concerns about safety and global warming. It is now up to other manufacturers to follow in their footsteps.’