The latest Euro NCAP crash testing has awarded the top achievement of five stars to Volkswagen’s new Passat and Sharan.

Scoring an overall rating of 96 per cent, the Sharan achieved one of the highest ever results.

According to Volkswagen, passive safety in the Sharan has been optimised through innovative restraint systems which include nine airbags, a curtain airbag system for all three rows of seats, side airbags for the first two rows of seats and driver and passenger airbags, as well as an additional airbag to protect the driver’s knees.

Previously, the Passat had been awarded five stars by Euro NCAP and the recently launched seventh generation model has retained the test’s top accolade, with strong scores for adult and child occupant protection and pedestrian safety.