Euro NCAP names safest cars of 2013 per category

Every year, the European New Car Assessment Program identifies the vehicles it tested that achieved the highest scores in their respective classes in terms of safety. For 2013, 33 cars were tested for seven different categories, and of the vehicles tested, the following models achieved the highest overall scores in their class:

* Renault Zoe - Supermini

* Qoros 3 Sedan - Small family

* Lexus IS 300h - Large family

* Kia Carens and Ford Tourneo Connect - Small MPV

* Jeep Cherokee - Small off-road 4x4

* Maserati Ghibli - Executive

According to the Euro NCAP, the Qoros 3 sedan scored the highest overall marks \"of any car subjected to Euro NCAP\'s crash tests in 2013.\" It is also the first Chinese vehicle to achieve the highest five-star rating under the overall rating scheme.

Based on its test results, the Qoros 3 scored 95% for its adult occupant rating, 87% for child occupant rating, 77% for pedestrian rating, and 81% for its safety assist features.

\"Euro NCAP is continuously evolving in response to industry innovation and consumer expectation,\" said the organization\'s secretary general, Michiel van Ratingen. \"It is very positive that the number of 4 and 5 stars is still significant despite the ever-increasing requirements. In 2014, another big step forward is taken by adding crash avoidance systems such as autonomous emergency braking and lane keep assist/lane departure warning tests to the overall star rating. The decision to reward collision avoidance technologies on new cars will encourage more widespread fitment and further improve the safety of all road users in Europe. We hope that this, together with very high levels of occupant protection, will allow consumers to choose the very safest vehicles in 2014 and after.\"

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