ANCAP: Five stars for Hyundai, Audi, Volvo

THE Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has handed down five-star safety ratings for the Volvo S90, Audi A5 and Hyundai Ioniq, while Hyundai’s i20 light hatch, which is sold in New Zealand but was discontinued in Australia, scored four stars.

Volvo was praised for the S90’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, which achieved perfect scores in tests for both AEB and forward collision warning (FCW).

The A5 drew praise for its active bonnet and high-quality AEB systems, while the Ioniq was also lauded for its autonomous technology such as AEB, adaptive cruise control and lane support systems.

Strong occupant protection and safety assist scores helped the S90 to its five-star rating, managing 34.73 out of 38 – or 91 per cent – in adult occupant protection, including a perfect score in the side impact test.

The Volvo scored strongly in the full width frontal and frontal offset crash tests, although it only offered “marginal” upper leg protection for the driver in both tests and for the rear passenger’s chest in the full width frontal test.

Worth noting is the fact that the ANCAP test score was borrowed from the Euro NCAP test, and European S90’s come with a driver knee airbag as standard, whereas Australian versions do not.

Side impact, pole, whiplash and city AEB tests all scored strongly.

Child occupant protection was rated at 39.33 out of 49, offering greater protection to a ten-year-old child than a six-year-old, while the pedestrian protection test netted a score of 32.29 out of 42 – or 76 per cent – offering “good” head protection for pedestrians thanks to its active bonnet, but offered poor protection around the upper bumper.

All three required seatbelt reminders are equipped, while lane support systems scored 2.7 out of three, speed assistance systems 2.5 out of three and interurban AEB a perfect three out of three.

The second-generation A5, which goes on sale in Australia this month, achieved similarly high scores across the board, particularly in adult occupant and child occupant protection tests.

The 2+2 coupe scored 34 out of 38 – or 89 per cent – for adult occupant protection, including 7.04 and 7.1 out of eight in the full width frontal and frontal offset tests, respectively.

It scored well for leg and head protection too, but was let down by its chest protection, as it was with the pole test where it scored 6.51 out of eight.

Perfect scores were achieved for the side impact test and city AEB, while the whiplash protection test netted a “good” rating with 2.35 out of three.

Child occupant protection scored 43 out of 49 – or 87 per cent – scoring a full 12 points for both an 18 month and three-year-old protection, however it should be noted that the A5’s five-star rating is based on the Euro NCAP test for the A4 sedan from 2015, so it can be assumed that rear-seat crash tests might yield different results for a two-door coupe compared to a four-door sedan.

Pedestrian protection was rated as “acceptable” with 27.35 out of 36, scoring a mix of “adequate” and “good” protection over the bumper and bonnet thanks in part to its active bonnet, but poorly on the upper bonnet/windshield area.

Interurban AEB scored 2.52 out of three, speed assistance systems managed only 1.33 out of three, and both electronic stability control (ESC) and seatbelt reminders received full three out of three.

The Hyundai Ioniq electric vehicle (EV), which was launched in New Zealand last month and will be coming to Australia either this year or 2018, performed strongly across the board on the way to its five-star rating, particularly in adult occupant protection where it scored 34.92 out of 38.

Hyundai’s EV achieved perfect scores in the side impact, pole and city AEB tests, while scoring 6.16 and 7.45 out of eight in the full width frontal and frontal offset tests, respectively.

It was let down in the full width frontal test with rear passenger protection, which scored poorly in the upper legs and marginally in the chest area.

Whiplash protection was rated at 2.31 out of three.

The Ioniq’s child occupant protection score was 39.39 out of 49, scoring 9.34 out of 12 for a six-year-old child and 11.05 for a ten-year-old.

Pedestrian protection testing yielded a score of 29.78 out of 42, with good protection offered by the front upper and lower bumper, while protection from the bonnet and windshield was less impressive.

FCW and AEB tests netted perfect scores almost across the board, while interurban AEB was rated at 2.73 out of three.

Speed assistance systems scored 1.5 out of three, lane support systems were rated 2.7 out of three, and all three seatbelt reminders were installed.

The Hyundai i20, which was discontinued in Australia in 2015 but has continued to be sold in New Zealand, scored a four-star rating for its updated model, being let down by its child occupant protection and safety assist ratings.

It scored 32.66 out of 38 or 85 per cent for adult occupant protection with a mix of “good” and “acceptable” protection, while losing points for not being equipped with AEB.

Child occupant protection was scored at 35.83 out of 49, or 73 per cent, with 9.42 out of 12 for both 18-month and three-year-old passengers.

A score of 28.46 out of 36 was awarded for pedestrian protection, with “good” protection from the bumpers, a mix of “good” and “adequate” protection from the bonnet and “poor” protection on the A-pillars.

Electronic stability control (ESC), seatbelt reminders and lane support systems all received full marks, while the speed assistance system was rated at 1.33 out of three.

ANCAP CEO James Goodwin said he was pleased with the results, but the lower level of specification offered in Australia compared to other markets was concerning.

“A range of brands and vehicle categories are covered with these ratings and the majority performed very well across all areas of our assessment,” he said.

“The safety specification of S90 models sold locally does however differ to those sold in Europe with no driver knee airbag. Specification of the A5 also differs between Australia and New Zealand with adaptive cruise control and lane support systems provided as standard for New Zealand consumers yet optional for Australians.

“It is disappointing we continue to see this happen across brands.”