Surprise, surprise… Kia Cee’d’s alter ego, the Hyundai i30 didn’t do so well at the European New Car Assessment Programme’s (Euro NCAP for short) latest tests as it scored a four star rating (out of five) and 33 points for adult protection. The Cee’d on the other hand, had achieved a maximum 5-star rating and 34 points (click here) .

Strange, to say the least, since we’re virtually talking about the same the car. There is an explanation however. According to Euro NCAP, the i30 did not achieve the minimum points needed in frontal impact for a 5-star adult occupant rating, despite scoring enough points overall because the driver dummy's right knee showed potential injurious. Euro NCAP says that this, combined with penalties for structures in the dashboard which could injure occupants' knees and femurs, gave an overall rating of 'weak' for protection of that body region. -Continued after the jump

Additionally, the i30 achieved a mediocre 3-star rating (out of 5) and 34 points in child occupant protection when the Kia Cee’d was warded with 4-stars and 37 points! At least the Hyundai managed to equal the Cee’d’s 2-star rating (out of four) in pedestrian protection. Have in mind though that the i30 currently sold in Europe is manufactured in Korea. In 2008, Hyundai will transfer production for the European market i30 to its new factory in the Czech Republic. Wonder how the Korean carmaker will communicate the latest Euro NCAPresults.