The final Euro NCAP safety scores of 2017 are in – and it’s a disappointing end to the year with six cars scoring just three points… and the revised Fiat Punto earning the first-ever ZERO Euro NCAP rating.

There were some full-house five-points scores to offset things, but Euro NCAP reckons it’s still a let-down that so many cars have earned average ratings: often, the reason for the poor scores is simply a decision by car manufacturers not to fit vital safety kit as standard.

The eight cars to score just three stars are:

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta
• Dacia Duster
• Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max
• Vauxhall Viva
• DS 3
• MG ZS
• Toyota Aygo (4 stars with optional safety pack)
• Kia Stonic (5 stars with optional safety pack)

Some of the cars have been on sale for a few years and have recently been facelifted: Euro NCAP’s retested them to allow consumers to make a fair comparison to new models.

Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said: “The fact that older cars cannot compete illustrates the pace at which the vehicle industry is innovating safety, and the willingness and ability of competitive manufacturers to meet the highest standards.”

Matthew Avery is a director at Thatcham Research, which is the British partner in the Euro NCAP organisation. He picked out the upmarket French DS brand for criticism. In November, the DS 7 Crossback achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating – and came with standard-fit AEB and Lane Departure Warnings.

DS is a premium brand, but Citroen has made a clear decision with the DS 3, offering AEB as an option only.

It comes down to simple decision-making, he said. “Some are choosing to prioritise the fitment of technologies to support drivers and bring down accident rates. Others are not.”

Things should change in 2018, he added: it will be impossible for a car to score a five-star Euro NCAP rating without standard Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).

It wasn’t just the lack of standard AEB that let down the December three-star cars, either. The Ford C-Max not only had little standard safety technology, they also performed below expectations in crash impact testing: both adult and child occupant scores were worse than average, said Avery.

Zero Euro NCAP points

The latest Fiat Punto is the standard car in the latest tests. It’s a revised version of the model first launched in 2005, and shows just how far car safety technology has progressed: a 51 percent score for adult occupant protection is more than 30 percent worse than average.

The car also earned Euro NCAP’s first-ever 0 percent rating for safety assist technologies. “This is essentially an old car,” said Avery, “but that should have sharpened the focus on fitting safety technologies to counteract it’s dated crash performance.”

The latest test cancels the Fiat’s originally decent rating back in 2005. “Euro NCAP frequently raises the bar in the testing regime,” said Avery: this test strikingly illustrates that.

Five-star Euro NCAP cars

Other cars showed how it should be done, scoring five stars in the December 2017 Euro NCAP tests:

• BMW 6 Series
• Hyundai Kona
• Jaguar F-Pace
• Kia Stinger
• Toyota Yaris

Although all 16 cars tested in November 2017 scored five stars, the latest results show that a full Euro NCAP score is not a given. It all comes down to whether car manufacturers fit life-saving technologies as standard, or choose to cut costs by relegating them to the options list – or, in the car of Fiat, not offer them at all…

Read more:

• An SUV is one of the safest new cars you can buy
• New Ford Fiesta scores five stars in Euro NCAP test
• The cheapest new cars with five stars for safety

Volvo has triumphed in a “nail-biting” vote-counting ceremony to take the 2018 Japan Car of the Year title. In doing so, it beat two very strong rivals: the BMW 5 Series and home favourite the Toyota Camry (which Motoring Research drove recently in LA).

As the scores from the 60 Car of the Year jurors were tallied in front of a 200-strong audience, the lead actually changed three times. In the end, Volvo triumphed with a 294-point score, 52 ahead of the BMW and 62 in front of the Toyota.

• 2017 Volvo XC60 review
• Every new Volvo will be electrified from 2019

It’s the first time in the 38-year history of Japan Car of the Year that a Volvo has won. Volvo Japan’s CEO Takayuki Kimura was suitably honoured. “To be honest, I would have been happy with the Import Car of the Year.

“But to come away with the overall Japan Car of the Year is totally unexpected and sincerely humbling.”

The Volvo XC60 is also in the running for the 2018 World Car Awards, which will be presented at the New York International Auto Show in April 2018.

Other winners of Japan COTY 2018 awards were the Toyota Prius PHEV for Best Innovation, the Lexus LC in the Emotional Award category, while the Toyota Prius took the Special Achievement Award for selling no fewer than 10 million hybrids in 20 years.

The jury also approved a second Special Achievement Award, to racing driver Takuma Sato, for becoming the first Japanese to win the Indy 500.  

Japan Car of the Year 2018 – top 10

1: Volvo XC60

2: BMW 5 Series

3: Toyota Camry

4: Suzuki Swift

5: Honda N-Box

6: Lexus LC

7: Alfa Romeo Giulia

8: Mazda CX-5

9: Citroen C3

10: Volkswagen Tiguan

We’ve had some great drives in 2017, and not all in the cars you might expect. For every supercar here, there’s a crossover. We’ve even nominated two pick-ups.

Each member of the Motoring Research team – Andrew Brady (AB), Bradley Lawrence (BL), Gavin Braithwaite-Smith (GBS), Peter Burgess (PB), Richard Aucock (RA) and Tim Pitt (TP) – has picked the vehicles that made us smile. Here are the finalists in full.

• 2018 Subaru XV first drive: a budget Land Rover alternative
• McLaren Senna costs £750,000 – but is already sold out
• Meet the Mercedes-Benz you can live in

Hyundai i30 N

Surely it couldn’t be that good, I mused, as I settled into the i30 N’s chunky bucket seat, surveyed its cabin and chewed on the talents of its arch-rival, the Volkswagen Golf GTI. It isn’t that good. It’s better. Way better. And if you’re surprised, you should have been where I was sitting as I did another long, glorious stretch of Lincolnshire launch-route roads. It’s a good job video guy Bradley wasn’t there, because I was speechless.

It’s my kind of hot hatch to a tee. Loads of feel through the controls, strong and tight front end, bags of bite from the limited-slip diff, meaty gearchange and steering, plus a gem of a chassis fully equipped with bespoke kinematics and clever adaptive dampers. For the money, it’s an extraordinary car that, even now, I just want to drive and drive. The mark of a good hot hatch right there. Hyundai’s nailed it. RA

Mercedes-AMG E63 S

Meet the ultimate Jekyll-and-Hyde car. This upmarket and understated saloon offers supercar-rivalling performance and driving excitement, with a bellowing V8 soundtrack to match.

The ‘only car you’ll ever need’ cliché is a staple of motoring journalism – and applied, more often than not, to the Volkswagen Golf GTI. For me, though, the E63 S best fulfills that brief. From comfortable cruiser to Drift Mode hooligan, it’s got every base covered. TP

Volvo XC40

While some of the inclusions here are on purely emotive grounds, the Volvo XC40 is probably the most complete all-rounder I’ve driven in 2017. It looks great, while the interior is pleasingly upmarket and full of clever ideas to make the most of its small platform.

The current powertrains on offer in the XC40 are refined, if not exciting, while an upcoming hybrid version could future-proof the car. AB

Vauxhall Maloo R8 LSA

This Aussie-built Maloo isn’t just a truck (sorry, ‘ute’). It’s also the fastest commercial vehicle on sale in the UK. A 544hp 6.2-litre supercharged V8 means 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds if you use launch control. Plus, a popping crackling soundtrack to match.

Going this fast in a truck is both addictive and hilarious. When the supercharger gets into its stride, you simply take off. Also, while it might only have two seats, the option to carry a wardrobe or a couple of sheep in the back only adds to the mighty Maloo’s appeal. BL

Lamborghini Huracan Performante

I’m not a Lamborghini kind of person. In fact, I’m not really a supercar type of person. I hate the attention they get, and the majority of the time they’re simply too capable for UK roads. And that’s all true for the 640hp Lamborghini Huracan Performante.

I spent a few days with the Huracan Performante this December and, most of the time, it was all a bit awkward. Van drivers tried to race me and elderly people frowned at me. Most of the time I was in traffic wishing I had a paper bag to cover my face. But then I crept out (as much as you can creep in a car as loud as the Performante) for a late-night drive on some deserted local roads. I won’t say any more, but it’s quite possibly the best car I’ve ever driven. AB

Suzuki Ignis

I had a feeling I would like the Suzuki Ignis, and having spent six months running one as a long-termer, I’m delighted to say my hunch was entirely justified. In a world in which carmakers are seemingly obsessed with making their cars feel more European, the Ignis is refreshingly Japanese.

I love the retro-inspired styling, which looks quite unlike anything else on the road, while some neat interior touches help mask the fact that it’s been built to a budget. It’s also good fun to drive, although its lightness and slab-sided design means you should avoid high winds, unless you fancy doing a passable impression of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. GBS

McLaren 720S

I was tempted to put the Huracan Performante in my top three, but a) Andrew has already chosen it and b) the 720S is a more complete proposition. Probably the most accomplished supercar on sale, in fact. How far McLaren Automotive has come in seven short years…

The 720S is brain-bendingly fast (0-186mph in 21.8 seconds, anyone?), yet doesn’t feel intimidating to drive. Visibility is excellent, all the controls move with weighty precision and the brakes – including an active airbrake – are the best I’ve experienced. Others have criticised the lack of aural drama, but I like the fact it doesn’t sound as OTT as a Huracan. TP

Range Rover Velar

Visually, it’s a concept car for the road, all clean surfaces and modernist appearance. The Range Rover Velar is also a nice drive, particularly in V6 diesel guise. It’s quite the step up in sophistication over a Range Rover Evoque and suitably different in emphasis from the Jaguar F-Pace it shares an architecture with. But it’s the Velar’s remarkable interior that really makes it stand out.

I did the first drive launch in Norway, and was wowed by its tactility, sleek appearance, the amazing dual-screen infotainment system and gorgeous seats. A few months passed, then I drove it again in LA, as part of assessments for the 2018 World Car Awards. The same flood of well-being came back to me. This is an incredibly feel-good car to spend time in. I loved each and every drive of it in 2017: the entire package is really rather special. RA

Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33)

Few things in 2017 could beat throwing a classic JDM car around a wet skid pan. The venue was Rockingham Motor Speedway and my chariot of choice was an R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R. After a bit of practise, I managed a full lap of the course without spinning out.

The well-used R33 had more than enough torque to break traction, helped by a welded diff and a competition drift clutch – the latter was effectively either on or off. It was a lot of fun, and not as difficult as I’d expected. BL

Skoda Yeti

Gone, but not forgotten. I had the pleasure of taking the dearly departed Skoda Yeti on a road trip to Northern Ireland, where I found that it remained relevant, some eight years after it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. I was grinning from ear-to-ear as I made my way to the ferry along some of the finest roads in Wales.

The Yeti’s passing marks the demise of one of the last true characters in an increasingly bland and depressingly dull segment. I’m sure its replacement – I’ve forgotten its name – is a better car, but it’ll never recapture the magic of the Yeti. GBS

Audi RS5

I really didn’t like the old V8 RS5. There, I said it. Too highly strung, it had no torque, no subtlety and no ride quality. Others loved it far more than me. I remember how often I was photographed in it almost as much as I remember how cold it left me. So, with the usual trepidation with which you approach an Audi RS (is there a performance brand more divisive?), I picked up the keys to the new V6 turbo RS5 at Goodwood for a week’s extended test drive.

What a transformation. This is ‘good’ Audi RS. The new 5 is sophisticated, has a chassis with depth, feels precise and is cleverly effortless to drive viciously quickly. It oozes quality, with head-turning looks that perfectly distil the charmingly technocratic appeal of Audi RS. Some don’t like it because it’s not a thumping V8. I love it precisely because of this. RA

Ford Fiesta ST

Heard the one about the £60k RS Turbo, or the £91k Escort Cosworth? Retro Ford prices are bonkers, but there’s a future classic Ford that’s still very affordable: the Fiesta ST. The car pictured here was discontinued earlier in 2017 and its replacement – complete with a ‘downsized’ three-cylinder engine – is due soon. It’ll need to be off-the-scale brilliant to top this little firecracker.

Indeed, any debate about affordable fun cars since 2013 has inevitably been settled with the words ‘Fiesta ST’. This 182hp pocket rocket channels the spirit of the Peugeot 205 GTI, while rejecting its fondness for snap-oversteer. Its engine is eager, its steering sublime. And on the right road, only a select few sports cars are more fun. TP

Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

A massive truck with 35-inch off-road tyres and flared wheel arches… Yes, the 10-year-old in me had a fantastic time spending a week with the Arctic Trucks D-Max.

From splashing through fords on my commute to surprising cyclists on a green lane, the D-Max could do it all. Objectively it’s not the best thing I’ve driven this year – far from it – but I loved it. AB

McLaren 570S

Another track day at Rockingham, this time behind the wheel of McLaren’s awesome 570S. A very knowledgeable racing instructor helped me push this 204mph supercar – and my driving ability – to the the limit.

I managed to reach a top of speed of 95mph down the main straight, before firmly stamping on the brake to throw the McLaren into the next bend. The best thing about this car is the noise; the roar of a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 just behind your head stays with you for hours afterwards. BL

Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain

This is my kinda car. I’ve been a fan of premium off-road estates since the days of the original Volvo V70 XC and the Audi Allroad, loving their blend of comfort, practicality and non-shouty styling. Right now, I’d select the new E-Class All-Terrain as my pick of the current crop of posh mud-plugging wagons.

It’s not cheap, but Mercedes’ ‘kitchen sink’ approach to the specification goes some way to justifying the £60k price tag, while the 3.0-litre V6 diesel makes surprisingly light work of hauling this two-tonne estate car uphill and down dale. A class act. GBS

Volkswagen Polo

It’s still difficult to gloss over Volkswagen’s issues, particularly how buyers have been deceived by the company’s claims for great economy and emissions. Yet is it time to move on, to (mostly) forgive and forget? It does seem that the Volkswagen group is doubling its efforts to clean up its act, and as a consequence become one of cleanest car companies in Europe.

There’s no better evidence of this than the truly excellent new Polo, which hits the road early in 2018. A range of small petrol engines offer driving pleasure with impressive economy, combined with a sense of class and comfort that knocks even modern rivals into the weeds. PB

>NEXT: 2018 Subaru Impreza first drive

The demonisation of diesel is seeing many company car drivers dashing into plug-in hybrid alternatives – but one fleet car expert says this could worsen emissions and economy if it’s not correctly planned for.

Although on paper, plug-in hybrids can offer similar – or even better – claimed economy and CO2 emissions than diesel, the reality could be very different if, say, recharging procedures are not considered.

• The best new hybrid cars in 2017

“Certainly,” said FleetCheck MD Peter Golding, “it must be a matter of policy that any driver issued with a plug-in hybrid should have off-road parking with charging available.” Ideally, there should be charging facilities at the office, too.

Drivers should also be trained in how to drive a plug-in hybrid. “Some drivers will use the electric motor to add to the acceleration… However, driving in this way will remove the fuel economy advantages.”

There may even be a need to constantly and closely monitor fuel consumption, to check drivers are using plug-in hybrids correctly.

Fleets that don’t do this “could find various problems arising very quickly, most notably poor fuel economy and the resulting increase in emissions.”

Because of all this, added Golding, it’s likely that most fleets will conclude that a modern Euro 6 diesel is still the best company car choice. “For higher mileage drivers especially, there is every suggestion that a Euro 6 diesel remains the most environmentally responsible solution, whatever the press, pressure groups and other are saying about its impact on air quality.”

The FleetCheck warning follows earlier findings by another fleet company that in-use plug-in hybrids were proving much less efficient than comparable diesel cars. The reason why? Drivers weren’t plugging them in…

NEXT> Plug-in hybrids emit MORE CO2 than diesels, report finds

The McLaren Senna is described by the British sports car firm as “the ultimate road-legal track car” and is priced accordingly: £750,000. Despite this, all 500 cars have already been allocated to customers, meaning the car effectively sold out even before its dramatic launch this weekend.

Production will start from Q3 2018, and McLaren says the Senna will make its public debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Derived from the McLaren 720S, the second ‘Ultimate Series’ McLaren (following 2013’s McLaren P1) is the firm’s lightest road car since the original McLaren F1; it weighs 1,198kg.

The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is the most powerful road-going McLaren engine, producing 800hp for a power-to-weight ratio of 668hp per tonne. Exact performance figures won’t be revealed until next year; for now, McLaren’s simply calling it “savage”.

It goes further when describing the styling, saying it visually “shocks… the first impression is of an aggressive, unforgiving machine”. Organic shapes are out, fragmented and performance-focused design is in. It’s not pretty, and that’s exactly what McLaren intended.

Buyers who, for some reason, feel they need extra visual drama can choose one of five ‘By McLaren’ colourschemes for the front aero blades, brake calipers, exposed gas door struts (covers are apparently too heavy…) and seat trim: colours include Azura Blue and McLaren Orange.

There’s only one choice of wheel though: it’s ultra-lightweight, uses a racing centre lock, and is fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R track-spec, road-legal tyres.

It’s also not the most practical of road cars. It still has a passenger seat, but there’s no boot, simply a chamber behind the seats in which there’s just enough space for two helmets and race suits. Such racing focus is why McLaren’s added a button on the roof console to engage Race mode: this lowers the ride and “significantly” stiffens the suspension.

It’s all been enough to get the Senna family seal of approach. “Our family is extremely proud of the naming of the new Ultimate Series McLaren Senna,” said Ayrton’s nephew, racing driver and McLaren ambassador Bruno Senna. “This is the first project that really connects with Ayrton’s racing spirit and performance.

“The McLaren Senna honours my uncle because it is so utterly dedicated to delivering a circuit experience that allows a driver to be the best they can possibly be. There is an absolute, seamless connection between car and driver and this pure engagement, these sensory cues that a driver responds to and relies upon, ensure an experience so focused and immersive that you are left in awe of the depths of excellence the McLaren Senna possesses.”

Unless you have £750,000 but your name’s not on the list, that is.

NEXT> McLaren 720S review

Lexus has announced the new 2018 Lexus LS range will be sold in a four-model range with UK prices starting from £72,595. Every one will be a petrol-electric hybrid; Lexus has never sold a diesel-engined LS and certainly isn’t about to start now.

All models will be LS 500h variants, using a 3.5-litre V6 combined with two electric motors. The entry-grade is simply LS 500h, moving up through Luxury and F Sport models to the top-line Premier. And buyers will be able to option all-wheel drive on Luxury and Premier trims.

A deep breath is necessary before contemplating standard spec on even the base car. It gets 20-inch alloys, triple-LED headlights, dual-zone climate control boasting nanoe air quality control, 20-way power-adjust leather seats with both heating and ventilation, plus a 12-speaker stereo.

Luxury models boost climate control to four zones, and the system features a so-called Climate Concierge (it actually monitors the surface temperature of passengers via infra-red sensors, making micro-adjustments if it senses they’re getting too hot or cold. Wow…). The stereo is now a 23-speaker Mark Levinson QKI Reference Surround system, seats power-adjust 28 different ways, the rear chairs are both heated and cooled, while the leather is upgraded to semi-aniline trim.

F Sport is, yes, the sporty one. It’s got a unique look compared to other LS, with lower-profile tyres, spindle grille packed with L-motif elements, black brake calipers and jet black exterior detailing. There’s a three-spoke steering wheel inside and, underneath, variable ratio steering and dynamic rear steering.

The F Sport also gets a moving ring instrument set similar to those first seen in the Lexus LFA.

And the Premier? Apparently, it fully shows off the Japanese tradition of Omotenashi, the art of hospitality. Seats have Shiatsu massage function, there’s a rear seat relaxation and entertainment package, while the rear chairs adjust in 22 different ways. Lexus also protects its presumably well-heeled occupants with the Lexus Safety System+ A, its “most sophisticated package yet of active safety and driver assistance systems”. This includes autonomous-drive functionality.

Ordering is open now, with first deliveries due early in 2018. By then, prospective owners may finally have digested the standard spec list of their looming new cars.

2018 Lexus LS prices

• LS 500h: £72,595
• LS 500h Luxury: £79,995
• LS 500h Luxury AWD: £82,595
• LS 500h F Sport: £79,995
• LS 500h Premier: £97,995
• LS 500h Premier AWD: £105,595

The latest Mazda MX-5 limited edition has been announced: the Z-Sport is capped to 300 cars, each costing £25,595, with sales beginning just in time for the new ’18-plate’ registration on 1 March 2018.

New Mazda MX-5 first drive

Why is it special? Because this is the first chance Mk4 MX-5 fans have had to buy the new soft-top roadster with a contrast-colour convertible roof. The Machine Grey metallic paint is offset by a cherry red fabric roof, with black 17-inch BBS alloys added in for good measure.

Inside, there are free sand-coloured leather seats, and a set of Z-Sport floor mats and door kickplates. Rather neatly, Mazda’s sticking an individually-numbered Z-Sport plaque onto the dash of every car.

All come with the higher-power 2.0-litre 160hp engine also used by the MX-5 Sport Nav the car’s derived from. This means they also all have a limited-slip differential, Bilstein dampers and a strut brace. Plus, of course, standard sat nav.

Jeremy Thomson, MD of Mazda Motors UK said: “The MX-5’s new cherry coloured roof was shown for the first time in public at the recent Tokyo Motor Show where it received a very positive reception.

“I’m delighted that we can bring it to UK MX-5 buyers as part of the exciting Z-Sport limited edition model.”

And if the Z-Sport name is familiar, you’re clearly a hardcore MX-5 fan: it was first used in 2007, on the Mk3 MX-5. This was capped to 400 cars, each in Radiant Ebony Mica paint, with stone leather seats and 17-inch BBS alloys. This second-generation car follows the template closely, but is even more exclusive than 07 car.

“We’ve had a long tradition of producing distinctive limited edition MX-5s that allow customers to drive a sports car with stand-out looks and enhanced equipment,” added Thomson. “The new Z-Sport is one of the best yet.”

The stereotypical image of the white van man driver is being challenged by a “van buying renaissance” that is seeing more women than ever choosing to run a van.

Auto Trader research has discovered women now make up 32 percent of van owners, something it attributes to the growing appeal of vans for use in occupational and leisure pursuits.

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Self-employed people, such as those with small internet businesses, are buying vans in ever-greater numbers, meaning that a full 1.4 million households in Britain now own a van. But they’re not just for business use: 40 percent of owners say they use their vans for leisure activities as well as work.

They’re unlikely to have a tabloid newspaper shoved on the dashboard either: the most-read newspaper for today’s British van driver is a broadsheet. The middle classes comprise 37 percent of all UK van drivers.

Auto Trader editorial director Erin Baker said: “Van drivers have probably suffered at the hands of the ‘white van driver’ stereotype for too long. But our study shows a revival for the van community which celebrates van drivers of all backgrounds, genders and ages.

“The van has many benefits beyond couriering work equipment, and now with modern interiors, better technology and connectivity and an overall driving experience that’s becoming more comfortable, car buyers are increasingly turning to the van when it comes to considering a vehicle that meets their occupational and lifestyle needs in equal measure.”

Auto Trader says the used van market increased 4.4 percent between July and September 2017, and van advert views have rocketed by 47 percent so far this year: a whopping 10.5 million van adverts are viewed every single month.

The marketplace even reckons some owners could be using vans as a more cost-effective alternative to bigger cars or SUVs, facilitating weekend pursuits without costing a fortune.