Mazda CX-30 scores 5-star ANCAP safety rating

MAZDA’S all-new CX-30 mid-size SUV has been awarded a maximum five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), and in the process achieved a record score of 99 per cent for its protection of adult occupants.

According to ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin, no other vehicle has ever come so close to a perfect adult occupant protection score.

“It performed exceptionally well across the range of destructive crash tests including the full width, side impact, oblique pole and whiplash tests,” he said.

“Only minor reductions were seen for potential injury risk to the lower legs in the frontal offset test.”

Far from a one-trick pony, the CX-30 posted solid test results all-round, including 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 76 per cent for safety assist systems.

“The physical protection offered to child occupants was also strong, and our assessment showed a range of common child restraints could be safely accommodated,” Mr Goodwin said.

“Autonomous emergency braking performance was good, with vehicle-to-vehicle collisions avoided or mitigated across higher-speed scenarios.

“Active lane-keep assist functionality also showed areas of good performance, however the system does not have the capability to intervene in more critical emergency lane-keeping scenarios.”

Standard safety and driver assist technologies on the CX-30 include adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, driver alertness monitor, autonomous emergency braking in forward and reverse gear including rear cross-traffic detection, forward collision warning, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, road-sign recognition and tyre pressure monitoring.

Seven airbags are also fitted standard, along with dusk-sensing LED headlights with automatic high beam.

A package of additional driver aids included standard on the top-spec Astina (from $38,990) – and optional on other variants for $1500 – comprises 360-degree monitor, semi-autonomous cruising and traffic support, front cross-traffic alert and a more sophisticated driver drowsiness monitor.

Due to go on sale next month, the CX-30 will slot between the small CX-3 and mid-sized CX-5 priced from $29,990 plus on-road costs, with Mazda confident the new model will not poach sale from its smaller and bigger counterparts.