ANCAP: Five stars for Merc A-Class, Mazda6, Lexus ES

THE Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has announced a trio of maximum five-star crash safety ratings for the new-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class small hatch, updated Mazda6 medium sedan and wagon and refreshed Lexus ES300h mid-size sedan.

 

The A-Class topped the class, recording the highest-ever vulnerable road user protection rating, which takes into account crash protection for pedestrians and cyclists.

 

The A-Class also shone on adult occupant protection, scoring 96 per cent overall with scores of 7.11 and 7.81 out of eight for the frontal offset and full width frontal test respectively, while the side impact test returned full marks and the oblique pole test 7.88 out of eight.

 

Whiplash protection was rated at 1.72 out of two, while full points were awarded for its city autonomous emergency braking (AEB) capabilities.

 

Near-perfect results were recorded for child occupant protection (91 per cent overall), including 15.98 out of 16 for the frontal offset test and full marks for the side impact test and restraint installations.

 

On-board safety features scored 9.00 out of 13, with points deducted for a lack of second-row integrated child restraints and second-row centre Isofix points.

 

As mentioned, the 92 per cent vulnerable road user score is the system’s highest so far, scoring 20.39 out of 24 for head impacts, and perfect results for all else bar the AEB pedestrian test, which scored 5.83 out of six.

 

Safety assist tests netted a 73 per cent overall score, with speed assistance systems and seatbelt reminders scoring 2.5 out of three. Lane support systems returned a score of 2.25 out of four, while interurban AEB tests scored 2.36 out of three.

 

The Mazda6, updated in May, recorded a strong 95 per cent rating for adult occupant protection, with strong returns in the frontal offset test (7.49 out of eight) and full width frontal test (6.82 out of eight), and perfect scores in the side impact and oblique pole tests.

 

Whiplash protection was rated at 1.83 out of two, with full points for the city AEB test.

 

Child occupant protection was rated at 91 per cent, with perfect scores in the frontal offset and side impact test and a near-perfect 11.81 out of 12 for restraint installation. Like the A-Class, the Mazda6 scored 9.00 out of 13 for on-board safety features, with identical point deductions.

 

Vulnerable road user protection returned a 66 per cent overall score, with strong returns for head impacts (20.05 out of 24) and lower leg impacts (full points) but a poor return for upper leg impacts (1.04 out of six).

 

The Mazda6’s AEB system responded well to the pedestrian test (4.77 out of six), but was not applicable for the cyclist tests and therefore did not score any points.

 

Safety assist was rated at 73 per cent, with 2.43 and 2.5 out of three for the speed assistance systems and seatbelt reminders respectively, while lane-support systems were graded at 2.00 out of four, and interurban AEB at 2.61 out of three.

 

Lastly, the Lexus ES – now available only in hybrid 300h guise – scored strongly across the board, with a 91 per cent result in adult occupant protection. Out of eight, the ES registered 7.51 for the frontal offset test, 6.61 for full width frontal, and 7.5 for the side impact and oblique pole tests.

 

Whiplash protection was rated at 1.6 out of two, while the city AEB test returned full points.

 

Child occupant protection was rated at 86 per cent, with perfect scores in the frontal offset and side impact tests, and a near-perfect 11.22 out of 12 for restraint installation. On-board safety features scored 7.00 out of 13, due to airbag disabling unavailable for the front passenger seat.

 

Vulnerable road user protection scored 90 per cent, with 20.32 out of 24 and perfect scores for upper and lower leg impacts, and pedestrian AEB. AEB with cyclists returned a mark of 5.33 out of six.

 

An overall score of 76 per cent was registered for safety assist, with speed assistance systems scoring 2.25 out of three, lane support systems registering 2.25 out of four, and interurban AEB recording a score of 2.4 out of three. Full marks were awarded for seatbelt reminders.

 

The scores apply to all A-Class and Mazda6 variants sold from August, and all ES versions from September.

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