In a coup that's sure to make sister company and safety champion Renault green with envy, Nissan's new Qashqai hatchback-cum-4x4 has scored the highest rating ever recorded by Euro NCAP for adult occupant protection.
The Qashqai scored five stars and 37 points in the European benchmark crash test; that's maximum points for protection of occupants in a side impact, maximum points in NCAP's offset front pole crash test, and near-maximum points in the frontal impact test.
In the crash safety body's other tests, the car also scored highly; it was awarded four stars for child occupant protection and two stars for pedestrian protection. The only car in the class that betters it in either of those areas is the Toyota Auris.