NISSAN'S new Micra has been awarded a five-star safety rating in the UK from Euro NCAP.

The top score safety standard for the new supermini is mainly because of its so-called intelligent driving technologies in the safety assist category of testing.

The new Micra, which is priced from £11,995, is fitted with automatic emergency braking and systems which can detect a slowing or stopping vehicle ahead and automatically apply the brakes. Depending on the relative speeds, this can avoid an impact or reduce the severity.

The Micra was tested under Euro NCAP's newest protocols and achieved the maximum possible five star score.

Also 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 activated - for example, by crossing a line in the centre of the road - the steering wheel gently vibrates. If necessary, the brakes are automatically applied to guide the car back into the correct lane.

Every new Micra comes with six airbags as standard,plus seat belt warnings and seat belt height adjustment in the front.

The Isofix car child seat fitting system can be used with the new Micra with mounts in the back and in the front passenger seat.

Additional safety features include electronic stability, anti-lock brakes and hill start assist as well as a speed limiter, automatic headlight sensor, automatic hazard light activation and a tyre pressure monitoring system.