Mixed results for Jeep and Great Wall in ANCAP tests

THE Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has handed down a top five-star rating for the Jeep Patriot in the latest round of testing, but the Great Wall Motors V200 ute did not fare as well achieving just three stars.

The Patriot joins the Cherokee as the second Jeep to be awarded the maximum score from the Australian crash testing authority, with all other models including the compact Compass, rugged Wrangler off-roader and top-selling Grand Cherokee family-sized SUV four-star cars.

ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh said he was pleased with the performance of the Patriot, which achieved a score of 15.94 out of 16 for the side-impact test and 13.79 out of 16 for the frontal off-set test.

“This is a great result for Jeep. Their first five-star model was the 2014 Cherokee rated earlier this year and now the Patriot has proven it too is a safe choice for consumers," he said.

The result is for the 4x2 variant of the Patriot with the 4x4 version yet to be rated.

Fiat Chrysler Australia president and CEO Veronica Johns said the result for the Patriot highlighted the improvements the company was making to its fleet.

“The ANCAP rating, and similarly impressive crash-test results around the world, are a direct result of Jeep’s focus on driver and passenger safety,” she said.

“The results prove price doesn’t have to be a barrier to safety, with the five-star Jeep Patriot available for just $25,500 drive-away.”

Disappointing ANCAP’s testers was Chinese car-maker Great Wall's V200 4x4 single-cab diesel utility, which scored just three stars. That result is an improvement over the V240 4x2 dual-cab petrol ute which was given two stars when tested in 2010.

Mr McIntosh said he understood price is important to vehicle buyers, but safety should not be overlooked. He also said that while regulations on light commercial vehicle safety are not as stringent as passenger cars, it is not an excuse for sub-standard build quality.

“Price is of course one of the key factors when it comes to deciding which car to buy, but that shouldn’t mean we compromise on safety,” he said.

“Today's two ratings highlight the differences we're still seeing between passenger vehicles and light-commercial vehicles (LCVs).

“LCVs are still being afforded regulatory concessions when it comes to safety but there is no reason why LCVs should be built to lesser standards than passenger cars,” said Mr McIntosh.

According to ANCAP in the first half of this year, 90 per cent of new passenger cars sold had achieved five-star crash ratings, while just 55 per cent of the light-commercial vehicles sold provided the same level of safety.