The new Nissan Micra has been awarded a maximum five-star safety rating in the Euro NCAP tests.

Priced from £11,995, the new Micra is fitted with automatic emergency braking along with safety systems which can detect a slowing or stopping vehicle ahead and, if necessary, automatically apply the brakes. Depending on the speed the car is travelling, this technology can avoid an impact or reduce the severity.

In addition, standard across the range is pedestrian recognition technology, which is linked to the emergency braking system, and lane intervention technology which is a first in the supermini class.

When this system is activated it will alert the driver if they cross a line in the centre of the road without indicating. Firstly, the steering wheel gently vibrates and, if necessary, the brakes are automatically applied to guide the car back into the correct lane.

All new Micra models comes with six airbags, plus seat belt warnings and seat belt height adjustment in the front. Additional safety features include anti-lock brakes, electronic stability and hill start assist as well as a speed limiter, automatic hazard light activation, automatic headlight sensor and a tyre pressure monitoring system.