The all-new Ford Ranger has achieved a motoring milestone, by becoming the first ever pick-up to be awarded the maximum five star rating from the Euro NCAP crash test protocol.

By achieving an overall score of 89 percent, the all-new Ford Ranger became the highest scoring pick-up ever and also one of the highest scores ever awarded for any type of vehicle. In addition to that, the all-new Ranger achieved the highest rating of any vehicle ever tested by Euro NCAP for pedestrian protection (eighty one percent).

“Vehicle safety is a core value at Ford Motor Company and these independent test results confirm that not only is Ranger the highest rated vehicle in its class, it is also one of the highest rated vehicles ever assessed by Euro NCAP,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. “No one wants to be involved in an accident but if the worst were to happen, the new Ranger is proven to provide outstanding protection to occupants of all ages as well as pedestrians.”

Established in 1997 and backed by several governments, motoring, consumer and insurance organisations, Euro NCAP is the largest and most respected independent authority on crash testing in Europe.

Its assessors described Ranger’s test results as “remarkable,” with “impressive” scores in all areas.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP secretary general, said: “With such good pedestrian protection, the Ford Ranger is undoubtedly raising the bar of safety in the category of pick-up trucks, which had until now not proven to be the safest.”