SOME LESSER KNOWN car manufacturers are starting to understand the importance of good ANCAP safety scores, and across the board, that can only benefit all Australian buyers.
ANCAP has awarded five-star safety ratings to the Tesla Model X, Audi A7, Audi Q8 and MG HS, with the Hyundai Venue scoring four stars (probably a result they will be disappointed with).
The standout performer amongst the latest batch of ratings is the updated Tesla Model X (on sale from December 2019), achieving a record-equalling high score of 98 percent for Adult Occupant Protection and 94 percent for Safety Assist. These scores closely follow the high scores recorded by its smaller sibling, the Model 3, earlier this year.
Full points were achieved for protection of the driver in all four of the full-scale vehicle crash tests (frontal offset, full width, side impact and oblique pole), full points were achieved for lane support and emergency lane keep functionality, and close to full points were awarded in each of the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) test scenarios.
“Tesla should be commended for providing a vehicle which offers very high levels of safety performance both in its physical protection of occupants as well as its ability to help avoid a crash through its active safety systems,” said ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin.
The Audi A7 Sportback and Audi Q8, not unexpectedly, also demonstrated good performance in all assessment areas.
New SUV market entrant, the MG HS, also offered good all-round safety, although testing revealed a higher risk of injury in side impact crash scenarios.
“Tested to our most stringent criteria, the MG HS scored well, yet concerns were noted for chest protection of the driver in the oblique pole test and head protection for older children in the side impact test.”
Hyundai’s new small SUV, the Venue, scored four stars limited by its less advanced safety assist systems.
“The Venue fell shy of the five-star safety standard we’ve come to expect from Hyundai with Marginal performance levels observed for its ability to avoid a rear-end impact with vehicles in front. This limited the Venue’s Safety Assist score to 62 percent,” Mr Goodwin said.
“The Venue is the first model to undertake Safety Assist performance testing in Australia, following the commissioning of a new test facility in regional NSW,” he added.
Meanwhile, ANCAP has commended Fiat Chrysler Australia for making safety upgrades to it Australasian-supplied Wrangler which had previously scored a woeful one-star rating.
The Wrangler has seen its safety rating upgraded to three stars, but ANCAP has warned that some safety deficiencies haven’t been addressed.
MY20 Jeep Wrangler models see autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and blind spot monitoring (BSM) functionality introduced as standard safety features across the Wrangler model range, with performance testing of these systems undertaken by ANCAP earlier this month.
“These upgrades are welcome, and I commend the local supplier for moving to provide Wrangler buyers in Australia and New Zealand with collision avoidance capability,” ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin said.
“While a three-star rating is still somewhat shy of the expected five stars, all upgraded models now have the ability to detect and assist with avoiding a crash with another vehicle – both in lower and higher speed scenarios.”
“Unfortunately, the upgraded AEB system fitted to updated models is not yet able to detect our most vulnerable road users in pedestrians and cyclists” he said.
“Consumers should be aware that the structural deficiencies we saw with the originally-tested model such as A-pillar and cross-facia beam failure, footwell intrusion, high seatbelt loads and excessive pedal movement have not been addressed and remain a risk for occupants,” Mr Goodwin added.
Active lane support functionality is also not available.
The three-star ANCAP safety rating applies to all two-door and four-door Wrangler variants supplied to the Australian and New Zealand markets built from November 2019.
Further details on each of the vehicles rated can be viewed here.