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Latest Small Car Crash Tests Results Revealed in Australia
Motorists buying a small vehicle now have access to the latest crash test results from the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP)
20 July, 2004
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NRMA Motoring & Services Vehicle Policy Adviser, Mr Jack Haley said the latest round of results included recently released models including the Mazda3 and the Mitsubishi Outlander (four stars), the Hyundai Accent, Nissan Pulsar and the Toyota Echo (three stars) and the Kia Rio (two stars).
It is pleasing that generally vehicles are achieving improved results as new models are introduced said Mr Haley.
However, it is disappointing that the Toyota Echos rating has reduced from four stars to three in Australia, due partly to the passenger front airbag being deleted from the options list in the Australian market. The passenger airbag is standard on all Echo variants sold in New Zealand.
The Mazda3 offers a full safety package of 6 airbags at a reasonable cost and is proving to be very popular in the market place.
The best results ever recorded by ANCAP were achieved earlier this year by the Subaru Outback and Liberty models, both with a five star result. Subaru announced last week that the Forester now has side and head airbag protection as standard equipment, providing another 5 star ANCAP result. ANCAP encourages other manufacturers to introduce side and head airbags as standard equipment across their model ranges as quickly as possible.
Nissan has introduced a number of safety enhancements to its Pulsar range, including the addition of dual front airbags and anti-lock brakes as standard equipment.
ANCAP produces independent occupant protection information to assist new vehicle buyers in their purchase decision, a Roads and Traffic Authority spokesperson said.
The ANCAP results include a number of vehicles tested by European NCAP. These results are only released once it is determined the models sold in Australia would achieve the same crash test score as the models crash tested in Europe.
The EuroNCAP results include a five star rating for the Saab 9-3 convertible, which has seen Saab lay claim to being the first car company in Australia to offer a five star occupant protection rating across its entire vehicle range.
The European results also demonstrated that the technology Toyota used in designing the petrolelectric Prius hybrid, as well as performing well environmentally, scored well in occupant protection, with the Prius i-Tech model with side and head airbags achieving a five star result.
Other models tested in Europe that are also available in Australia include the Mercedes E-class and Volvo S40 (both 5 stars), the BMW Z4, Holden Vectra, Citroen C2, Audi A3 and the Ford Fiesta (all 4 stars).
The ANCAP results also include pedestrian impact test ratings out of a maximum of 4 stars, with results ranging from 3 stars for the Subaru Liberty, 2 stars for the Volvo S40, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Prius, BMW Z4, and the Citroen C2, to 1 star for the Toyota Echo, Mazda 3, Audi A3, Saab 9-3C, Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Accent, Holden Vectra and Mercedes E-class.
Pedestrians are a significant part of the road toll and I encourage all consumers to consider the benefits of cars rating high for pedestrian safety, the RTA spokesperson said.
Since 1999, ANCAP has crash tested over 80 top selling vehicles available in the Australian market. The results provide consumers with valuable information on the occupant and pedestrian protection levels afforded by new vehicles and are determined following a number of barrier impact tests and subsequent assessments.
ANCAP crash test procedures include an offset frontal test at 64 kilometres per hour [40mph], a side impact test at 50 km/h [31mph], an optional pole test at 29km/h [18mph], and a pedestrian test which indicates likely injuries to pedestrians hit by a test vehicle travelling at 40 km/h [25mph].
ANCAP recommends that new vehicle buyers consider selecting vehicles that also have good handling, stability programs, traction control and anti-lock brakes, to reduce the risk of being involved in a crash in the first place.
ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, all Australian state governments and the New Zealand government.
Consumers
are able to obtain the latest NCAP results from:
Source: NRMA/ANCAP press release
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