Ford Ranger scores in latest Euro-NCAP crash test

Nov 9, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Brussels - The new Ford Ranger pick-up truck has surprised experts by scoring top marks in the latest Euro-NCAP crash test, competing with other new off-roaders like the Mercedes M-Class, Audi Q3 and Fiat Freemont.

The Ford Ranger is the first pick-up to achieve a five-star rating in the test, and marks a significant improvement on the two-star adult occupant rating achieved by the previous Ranger in 2008, the Euro-NCAP said in its report.

In particular, the Ranger's 81-per-cent pedestrian protection score is the highest score recorded for pick-ups tested by Euro-NCAP so far.

'With such pedestrian protection the Ford Ranger is undoubtedly raising the bar of safety in the category of pick-up trucks, which had until now not proven to be the safest,' said Euro-NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen.

Other vehicles that obtained good scores for pedestrian protection include the BMW 1 Series, the Mercedes M-Class and the Toyota Yaris, all of which scored more than 60 per cent of available points - the lower limit that Euro-NCAP will set for a five-star rating from 2012 onwards. The BMW 1 Series is fitted with an automatic emergency call system.

'Although it is encouraging that some manufacturers invest in high-tech measures to protect pedestrians, there still is room for further improvement,' the organization said.