June 2003

- Brian Byrne

Espace gets highest-ever ENCAP safety score

26 June 2003: In a way unlike any other car manufacturer, Renault can from today truly lay claim to be building the safest range of cars in the world.

The Euro NCAP crash test programme today awarded the new Renault Espace IV not just the maximum five star rating, but the highest-ever marks in the programme.

Five other cars - the BMW X5, Peugeot 807, Saab 9-5, Toyota Avensis and the Volvo XC90 also achieved 5-star status.

Renault's Laguna II also regained the place it held until May 2003 as the safest car in its category, thanks to the inclusion of a seat belt reminder alarm.

In the latest tests, pedestrian protection has improved overall with VW's Touran joining the MGTF as the second European-designed and manufactured car to achieve a 3-star rating.

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