The latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests results are out – and the new Kia Picanto has become the only car NOT to score a full five-star rating.

Euro NCAP: safest cars by sector

10 cars were tested and each one received full marks from Euro NCAP EXCEPT the new Kia Picanto, which went on sale in June this year.

Testers instead awarded it four stars, and criticised Kia for not fitting standard ESC stability control. This was why Kia missed out, which has lead to the score Euro NCAP describes as ‘poorer than many of its city car competitors’.

Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said: ‘In 2011, consumers should expect this critical safety equipment to be part of any offering regardless of car size or price.

‘Proven safety benefits of ESC resulted in new legislation requiring the technology to be fitted as standard on all new models in Europe as of next year.’

However, there is a significant point UK buyers should consider: over here, the Kia Picanto DOES come with ESC as standard. As the car put in a strong performance across all other areas of the crash test, it seems likely a five-star score would otherwise have been awarded.

Kia, however, does not fit ESC as standard in all European markets – hence, the black mark and resultant four-star score.

Looking at the other cars tested, Euro NCAP also reveals that if next year’s more stringent pedestrian protection rules were in force, Kia wouldn’t be alone in failing to achieve the now-expected five-star score.

The Vauxhall Ampera, Audi A6 and Citroen DS5 only just managed to meet this year’s requirements and would have failed to to score five stars if launched next year.

There were some praiseworthy results in the field of child safety though. The Hyundai i40, VW Jetta and VW Golf Cabriolet all scored 86% in the latest tests. ‘Euro NCAP evaluates child safety for each model tested and encourages car manufacturers to provide equally good protection for adults and children’ said Ratingen.

‘We consider child protection as a very important part of the overall star rating and have plans to step up our requirements even more in the coming years.’

Euro NCAP crash test results: 5 stars

Audi A6

BMW X3

Chevrolet Aveo

Chevrolet Orlando

Citroen DS5

Hyundai i40

Kia Picanto

Vauxhall Ampera

VW Golf Cabriolet

VW Jetta

Euro NCAP crash test results: 4 stars

Kia Picanto