Isuzu MU-X, Yaris Cross top latest ANCAP results

ISUZU has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating for its new MU-X, with Toyota’s Yaris Cross also getting the maximum score at the other end of the SUV size spectrum.

The off-road-oriented Isuzu seven-seater and urban Toyota crossover joined the Subaru Outback wagon and hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai sedan that also recently achieved top results against the latest 2020-22 crash test criteria, which now fully align with stringent European NCAP procedures and protocols.

The Isuzu MU-X was awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating across its complete range. The newly released MU-X offers eight airbags – including a centre airbag between the front seats – on every variant and features Isuzu’s latest ‘Intelligent Driver Assistance Systems’ on all model variants.

ANCAP assessors praised the Isuzu MU-X range for being “very well equipped in the areas of physical crash protection and active collision avoidance”, the model’s new stronger body and chassis design taking cues from its twin-under-the-skin D-Max commercial ute that has also demonstrated a strong safety rating.

Isuzu says the MU-X premieres its latest large area energy-absorbing deformation zones and new ring-structured manufacturing technique, which integrates the body pillars with closed cross-sections for significantly improved occupant cell protection across all three seating rows.

“Safety is a must for those in the market for a seven-seat family vehicle, and the MU-X provides a safe choice for active families,” said ANCAP CEO, Carla Hoorweg.

The Toyota Yaris Cross light SUV, sharing many of its safety features with the Yaris hatch, offered what ANCAP said was a “balanced level of active and passive safety” to buyers of the higher-riding model.

The protection provided by the Yaris Cross to pedestrians was rated ‘good’ as was its ability to actively avoid collisions with pedestrians in frontal scenarios using its autonomous emergency braking system.

“The Yaris Cross achieved maximum points for its protection of adult occupants in the side impact, oblique pole and whiplash tests, Ms Hoorweg continued.

“Occupant-to-occupant protection was also good, with the Yaris Cross fitted as standard with dual centre airbags between the front seats to minimise potential head injury in side impact crashes.

“Both the Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Yaris Cross are very well equipped in the areas of physical crash protection and active collision avoidance, making them safe choices within their respective segments.”

Far-side performance saw the MU-X score 3.5 out of a possible four points, an important marker in a category that now forms 10 per cent of the overall score.

“ANCAP’s new far-side impact testing has been introduced to assist in reducing occupant-to-vehicle and occupant-to-occupant interaction and injury in cases where the crash impact occurs on the opposite side (of the vehicle) to the occupant,” explained Ms Hoorweg.

Isuzu’s MU-X also scored 33.25 points from a possible 38 (or 87 per cent) for Adult Occupant Protection, among the highest scores yet awarded under the new testing criteria, and 41.99 points out of 49 (or 85 per cent) for Child Occupant Protection.

The high-riding four-wheel drive managed a 69 per cent score for Vulnerable Road User Protection and an impressive 84 per cent for its safety assist systems.

“Safety has always been of paramount priority to us, and we are proud the all-new MU-X joins the new-generation D-Max with the maximum safety rating of five stars from ANCAP,” said Isuzu Ute Australia managing director Hiroyasu Sato.

“This means the entire Isuzu Ute family has top marks in safety; with five-star safety on every vehicle (in the range) … safety is not an option on an Isuzu (and) the entire MU-X range is equipped with the highest levels of standardised active and passive safety out of all ute-based SUVs.”

The Subaru Outback wagon and hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai also added a five-star ANCAP safety rating to their credentials, scoring top marks against ANCAP’s latest 2020-22 testing criteria and the Subaru achieving the highest scores to date against three of the four key assessment areas.

“The Subaru Outback comprehensively impresses, achieving the highest scores we’ve seen so far when testing to our current protocols,” said Ms Hoorweg.

“The Outback scored 91 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 84 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and a very high score of 96 per cent for Safety Assist, out-performing its closest rival in this assessment area by seven per cent.”

Subaru’s large jacked-up wagon scored maximum points for the performance of its lane keeping assistance and emergency lane keeping technologies, and close to full points in autonomous emergency braking (AEB) performance.

Maximum points were scored for its protection of pedestrians in upper and lower leg impacts, and for the model’s ability to actively avoid forward collisions with pedestrians though autonomous emergency braking.

The Subaru Outback is one of the first production vehicles to be fitted with a driver monitoring system that actively monitors the state of the driver’s alertness through eye movement, as well as indirectly via steering inputs.

It is also equipped with rear AEB technology, however this system rated poorly in test scenarios with ANCAP encouraging functionality improvements in future updates.

Similar was true of the Isuzu, and Yaris Cross, the latter flunking AEB Backover (for reversing) category with a nil score.

Toyota’s hydrogen-powered Mirai also received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in recent rounds of assessments.

The Mirai’s score for Vulnerable Road User Protection (80 per cent) closely emulated that of that Subaru Outback, the sedan also performing well in crash and post-crash safety criteria.

ANCAP said the Mirai’s fuel type had “no effect on the model’s inherent safety”, the active bonnet technology and multi-collision braking system noted as highlights of the Mirai’s crash safety performance.

“The results achieved by the Toyota Mirai are to be commended, showing safety and environmental benefits can and should go hand-on-hand,” said Ms Hoorweg.

“The safety specification of vehicles entering the market today has clearly evolved to take into account not only the physical protection offered by a vehicle if it crashes, but also the ability to actively avoid a crash or serious outcome for those outside the vehicle.

“This balanced approach to passive and active safety that we’re seeing from manufacturers is very important as we move further towards assisted, and eventually automated driving,” Ms Hoorweg said.