The result underlines AYGO’s position as a high quality product in the sub-B (small compact-car) segment of the European car market. The AYGO was awarded 26 points for its adult occupant safety.

AYGO backs up its four-star adult occupant rating with an excellent three-stars (36 points) for child protection and two stars (14 points) for pedestrian safety.

Kazuhiko Miyadera, Toyota’s European Executive Vice President for Research & Development, said: “Attaining high levels of passive safety for a vehicle of 3.4 metres length represented an engineering challenge for Toyota. Euro NCAP’s 4-star classification is an excellent reward for our efforts.”

Both active and passive safety played a fundamental part in the design and engineering of AYGO. Key safety features include:

• Toyota’s Minimal Intrusion Cabin System (MICS) - a sturdy safety structure that effectively dissipates the energy of frontal and side impacts throughout the body

• Twin front airbags as standard – with side and curtain airbags as options on all models

• A seatbelt warning system (with buzzer)

• ISOFIX child seat attachment on rear outer seats – with 50/50 rear folding seat installed

Given its design as a high quality urban car, the Toyota AYGO pays particular attention to pedestrian protection. Key areas of the front section, the bumper attachments, the bonnet and the front wings feature energy absorption structures that minimise injury in the event of an impact.

Active and passive safety are recognised as a vital feature of all Toyota models, with the latest Toyota Avensis, Corolla Verso and Prius achieving five star occupant ratings in Euro NCAP tests.