The VW Group's Up, Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii city cars have been awarded a top five-star rating by safety organisation Euro NCAP.

The car was acclaimed for its front and rear cabin protection for adult and child occupants, as well as for the fitment of stability control on most models. However, its front bumper was considered to be an imperfect shape in the event of an impact with an adult's legs or a child's head.

The radar-based City Emergency Brake system that is available as an option on all three VW Group cars was also praised. Some of the other vehicles that bagged five-star ratings were Range Rover Evoque, new VW Beetle, Mercedes C-class coupe and the B-class. The facelift Jaguar XF saloon was also tested and received four-star rating. Other notable test results included two four-star results for Chinese-made cars, the Geely Emgrand EC7 and MG6.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General, said: ‘These results mark a milestone for the Chinese automotive industry. It is a clear sign that Chinese car makers are building on recent experiences and rapidly investing in better vehicle safety.’

Other results included: