How safe is your small car?

Three new small cars sold in New Zealand have earned high marks for safety in Australian crash tests.

The Holden Barina, Honda Civic, and Subaru Impreza were each awarded four out of a possible five stars in tests measuring occupant protection in serious frontal and side impact crashes.

The least safe small car in the latest round of testing by the Independent Australian New Car Assessment Program was the Daewoo Lanos which scored just one star.

However the vehicle tested did not have an airbag unlike the Daewoo Lanos imported in New Zealand which are fitted with one on the driver's side.

The director of Land Transport Safety, David Wright, said it was encouraging to see more small cars were earning high marks for safety.

Others that had rated highly using the same test procedures in Japan and Europe included the Audi A3, Holden Astra, Mercedes A140, Peugeot 206, Toyota Echo, VW Golf and VW Beetle.