The Nissan Leaf has achieved a five star rating from Euro NCAP.

The Leaf earned an 89% rating for adult safety, an 83% rating for child protection and an 84% rating for its on-board safety assist systems. The compact family hatchback scored 65% for pedestrian safety thanks to its low nose design and the comparative lack of ‘hard points’ under the bonnet.

The EV’s battery system was switched on during the crash simulations to test the in-built safety measures of the electrical system, which includes automatic cut-off isolation in the event of an accident.

Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen, said: “The Nissan Leaf proves that EVs can achieve the same safety levels as traditional cars. The standard is now set for the next generation of such cars on the European market.”