The BYD F5 Suri has been awarded a five-star safety rating in the C-NCAP test, China's equivalent of the Euro-NCAP.
The F5 has also set a new record for home-grown Chinese brands with its score, which has also beaten rivals from Western brands like Ford and Volkswagen.
In particular, testers praised the F5's front seatbelt pre-tensioners, front airbags and air curtain. The car also performed well during impacts, with testers noting that the F5 maintained its basic shape with no noticeable deformation to both the A and B pillars.
It is understood that the C-NCAP test is broadly similar to the Euro-NCAP equivalent, although small differences in testing methods are expected. C-NCAP is just one of a number of vehicle testing organisations using the NCAP banner, with similar groups covering Australia and New Zealand with ANCAP, and the Latin NCAP covering Latin America.
BYD says it currently has no plans to bring the F5 to the UK. However, a fleet of BYD E6 electric vehicles are already on trial with several UK fleet operators.
