Consumer

4x4, News, Consumer

VIDEO: Skoda Kodiaq awarded 5-star safety rating

Skoda’s new Kodiaq has been awarded a maximum five star rating in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests. The large SUV achieved full marks in the side-barrier collision offering good protection of allareas at a risk. The Kodiaq continues the Czech brand’s run of good form, as all recently tested Skodas have been rated with five stars. This is thanks in no small part to the fitment of advanced driver assistance features such as the Automatic Emergency Brake system that detects pedestrians as well as other cars.

City car, News, Consumer, Hatchback, Safety

VIDEO: Fiat 500 and Ford Ka+ offer 'mediocre safety performance’

In the latest round of Euro NCAP’s crash tests, Fiat’s 500 and Ford’s all-new Ka+ scored just three out of five stars apiece. After more than 10 years on the market, the 500 was recently facelifted, but this did little to improve safety, according to a Euro NCAP report which noted poor protection for the driver and rear seat passenger. Fast forward 10 years to Ford’s brand new Ka+, which was described as offering ‘mediocre safety performance’ - lacking the more sophisticated restraint systems offered by most of its rivals, including the Citroën C3 which scored higher marks in the same tests. 

News, Consumer, Technology

VIDEO: Jaguar and Shell launch world’s first in-car payment system

Jaguar drivers can now use their car’s touchscreen to pay for fuel with a new onboard cashless payment app. Once installed, drivers can pull up at any Shell service station and select how much fuel they require and from which pump. After refuelling, the customer is charged via a cloud based system using Paypal or Apple Pay and an electronic receipt is displayed on screen, as well as being sent by email. The app is available to download now.

Consumer, Safety, Sports car, News

VIDEO: Ford Mustang scores just 2 stars in Euro NCAP crash test

The current Ford Mustang achieved a lowly two-star rating for overall safety in a series of recent crash tests carried out by Euro NCAP. There are concerns about its crash protection for adult and child occupants with a ‘worrying lack’ of safety equipment commonly available on the European market. Euro NCAP says the driver and passenger airbags inflated insufficiently and noted that the European Mustang does not have the US-spec Forward Collision Warning system. Ford has confirmed its forthcoming facelifted Mustang will feature upgraded safety kit as standard.