Originally posted by Mike T.

So now the EuroNCAP say they've revised the scoring system to give points on the final score for information on the safety devices - something the C Class has - and surprise, surprise, the C now gets its elusive 5 th star. Read the "New" test result for the C Class and then look at the same car's test from a year ago. It has the same crash performance scores, but by virtue of some new "idiot labels" in the cabin, it gets two bonus points to bring it up to the five star level. SHAME! The EuroNCAP used to be all about crash performance, not safety labels.

I smell a rat here. I wonder just who convinced EuroNCAP to do this?

If the car had been re-tested, following production enhancements, resulting in improved numerical scores, I could say the fifth star was merited. But the re-jigging of the 5th star scoring criteria is inexcusable.

Luckily, the EuroNCAP still lists the individual scores for frontal and side impact collision tests (I wonder if/when these will be supressed), so potential buyers who want to know about actual crash performance can "get behind the stars"

If you want to see the safest car according to the EuroNCAP tests, look at the scores for the Renault Laguna, 2001 model. Its numerical ranking is above the C Class on all counts.

Originally posted by DtS
Hmmm, mainly the fifth star was added because of the seat-belt reminder, which I think is a very different thing than "idiot labels". I definitely think this is a very good safety feature and as such, it should be weighted into the total safety meassure.

The three-pointed star has made a five-star point! The Mercedes C-Class has become only the second car ever to get a maximum score in the Euro NCAP crash tests, and joins Renault's Laguna at the top of the safety pile.

The C-Class was examined last year, when it achieved a four-star rating. But a change in the way vehicles are scored, coupled with the addition of a system which warns passengers to buckle up when they get in the car, has now led to the prestigious five-star honour.

Max Mosley, Euro NCAP chairman, said: "I'm delighted the C-Class has become our second five-star car, and I feel confident many more manufacturers will now rise to the challenge." Experts rated the car highly in most areas, and praised the protection it gave passengers, particularly around the front footwells.

There were other encouraging scores in the latest round of testing – the 10th since Euro NCAP started in 1996. And for the first time engineers have investigated sports cars and off-roaders – see separate story. Other models assessed included the Audi A2, MINI, Vauxhall Corsa and VW Polo, which were all four-star performers. The same points were given to the Jaguar X-Type, Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall's new Vectra. Only the Proton Impian proved disappointing, with a three-star showing. But it's not all good news. There's still concern over pedestrian safety, with NCAP no-ting that there's huge potential for improvement. Only the Honda CR-V was singled out as offering good protection, joining its Civic stablemate in getting three stars in this aspect of the test. All the other cars scored only one point in the pedestrian protection section.

Martin Sharp