Latest ANCAP safety ratings revealed

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program has given the thumbs-up to the new Mercedes A-Class, the revised Lexus ES 300h and the updated Mazda 6, awarding them all a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on its rigorous local crash testing program.

Assessed against the latest safety standards now in play across both the Australasian and European markets, each of the vehicles achieved strong scores in all key safety areas.

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The A-Class in particular showed excellent all-round safety performance, according to ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin.

“It has achieved the highest vulnerable road user protection rating to date with a score of 92 per cent, and has equalled the highest child occupant protection rating scoring 91 per cent,” Goodwin said.

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“Side chest-protecting airbags also extend to the rear seats as a standard feature on Australasian models, where it is offered as an option to European consumers,” he said.

Lexus’ ES 300h hybrid sedan scored particularly highly for its autonomous emergency braking, thanks to its ability to detect and avoid pedestrians in both day and night test scenarios. It also scored very well for cyclist detection capability. The ES 350, which is a V6 petrol-powered version of the ES 300h, is yet to be assessed.

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ANCAP’s recent inclusion of active safety features in its vehicle safety assessment meant the current generation Mazda 6’s five-star rating, awarded back in 2013 would probably not stand up to the current testing regime.

The 2018 version, which arrived in July with adaptive cruise control, high-speed autonomous emergency braking, forward and reverse city-speed auto-braking and lane-keep assist as standard, easily retained its five-star rating, despite some crash protection issues.

“The Mazda 6 performed well for its protection of adult and child occupants however some concerns were noted for smaller occupants seated in the rear, where the pelvis of the dummy slipped beneath the lap section of the seatbelt in the full width test – known as submarining – and a penalty was applied,” explained Goodwin.

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The Lexus also received a penalty for submarining of the rear occupant in the full width frontal test, but still achieved an 86 percent score for child occupant protection .

Meanwhile, ANCAP has also given front-wheel-drive versions of the Renault Koleos SUV five stars based on its 2017 EuroNCAP rating, under an alignment protocol between the two safety bodies.

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The all-wheel-drive versions of the Nissan X-Trail-based Koleos also scored five-stars in Europe, but that’s yet to convert to an ANCAP rating.

HOW THEY SCORED

Adult Occupant Protection

• Lexus ES300h - 91%
• Mazda 6 - 95%
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class - 96%
• Renault Koleos - 84%

Child Occupant Protection

• Lexus ES300h - 86%
• Mazda 6 - 91%
• Mercedes - Benz A-Class - 91%
• Renault Koleos - 79%

Vulnerable Road User Protection

• Lexus ES300h - 90%
• Mazda 6 - 66%
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class - 92%
• Renault Koleos - 62%

Safety Assist

• Lexus ES300h - 76%
• Mazda 6 - 73%
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class - 73%
• Renault Koleos - 52%