The Mazda MX-5 roadster has become the second modern sports car tested by Euro NCAP – and, like the Audi TT tested earlier in the year, has been awarded 4 stars by the crash safety organisation rather than a full-house 5.

While the MX-5 performed well in all-round crash tests, the organisation said it couldn’t give it a full 5 stars because it lacks the latest crash avoidance technology driver assist tech.

“In particular,” it said, “the absence of AEB disappoints as many similarly-priced cars in other segments offer this safety equipment at least as option.”

However, Euro NCAP did praise the MX-5’s deployable front bonnet, which it said helped deliver “exceptional pedestrian protection”. The Mazda was awarded an almost unbeatable 93% for pedestrian protection.

Hyundai, Vauxhall also tested

The Vauxhall Viva was also tested by Euro NCAP, and also scored four stars. Testers criticised the car’s restraint systems which could be better optimised: the crash test dummy’s head bottomed out the airbag in the front offset test, for example, and the chest was poorly protected in the side impact test.

“Chest protection offered to the rear small female passenger dummy in the latest full-width rigid barrier test was also weak while the driver slipped under the seatbelt, resulting in elevated risk at knee and femur injuries.”

It was up to Hyundai’s excellent new Tucson to grab the only full 5-star result of Euro NCAP’s latest assessments.

Testers gave it high scores across the board and said that, compacted to its 2006 predecessor, it “showed a worthy evolution in terms of safety all-round, and more specifically in safety assist”.