Honda's new Stream people carrier has been recognised as one of the safest of its type on the market, in the latest Euro NCAP safety tests.

The stylish and top-performing seven-seater earned a creditable four star rating in the severe frontal and side impact tests and a best-in-class three star rating for pedestrian protection performance.

No competitor achieved such a good combination score for the impact and pedestrian safety.

Furthermore, the Stream's 61 per cent pedestrian score is the highest result for any small MPV to date. Only one other competitor has achieved three stars.

This further endorse-ment of the safety of Honda's product range follows an outstanding result earlier in the year when the Swindon produced Civic recorded the highest-ever pedestrian rating of any car ever tested, as well as four stars in the frontal and side impact tests.

Honda spokesman, Lawrence Pearce, said: "The results for both Civic and Stream fully demon-strate the effectiveness of Honda's continuing programme of intensive research into vehicle safety issues.

"Euro NCAP assessments are significantly more severe than those under current European legislation."