Only the Citroen C5...

Only the Citroen C5 has achieved this score before. But when it was assessed last year, its points were rounded up to 36, whereas the 1007"s were rounded down

The pint-sized Peugeot, which is set to go on sale in UK showrooms in June, is only the second supermini to be awarded a full five stars. Its main rival, the Renault Modus, was the first. Last year, it gained the minimum 33 points required for inclusion in the top five-star category.

Maurice Eaton, Euro NCAP programme manager, said: "It"s fantastic that a supermini is our best scoring car ever. It shows how far motor manufacturers have come in improving vehicle safety."

Eaton praised the 1007 for its tough body structure. "The occupant protection was just so good," he said. "In a 40mph crash test, there was very little intrusion into the cabin." He explained that occupant safety was boosted by the car"s dual-stage front airbags, while those down by the knees helped prevent leg injuries.

The new Suzuki Swift was also included in the latest round of testing. It earned a four-star rating and an overall score of 30 points. Eaton said: "This is a big leap forward for Suzuki in terms of occupant safety. The Swift proved a very tough little car."

Honda"s FR-V compact MPV scored a four-star rating. "This model is typical of the Japanese manufacturer - good all-round safety," added Eaton. "It has taken the idea of the Fiat Multipla, with its 3x2 seat layout, but in terms of safety it"s better."The FR-V scored 29 points, while the Fiat, tested back in 2001, gained only 19.

For pedestrian protection, the Honda and Suzuki were awarded three stars, while the Peugeot got two. Eaton said the French car"s short bonnet and limited distance to the windscreen were partly to blame for this.