Three new Small SUVS score five ANCAP stars

ANCAP has this week awarded its highest safety score to three newly released vehicles: the BYD Atto 3, Nissan Qashqai and Volvo C40 Recharge.

The battery-electric BYD Atto 3 small-segment SUV scored well in each of the four key areas of the assessment, ANCAP said in a statement, the New Zealand-based variants achieving a five-star ANCAP safety rating for both the Standard Range and Extended Range models.

Full safety scores were achieved for protection provided to the driver in the side impact and far-side impact tests. Whiplash protection for front and rear seat occupants also scored well, while maximum points were achieved for the protection of child occupants in the side impact and frontal offset crash tests.

ANCAP said the active safety capabilities of the Atto 3 were also shown to be of a high standard with the standard pedestrian- and cyclist-detecting autonomous emergency braking system offering good levels of performance in forward, reverse, daytime, and night-time test scenarios.

The BYD Atto 3 scored 91 per cent in the Adult Occupant Protection category, 84 per cent in the Child Occupant Protection category, 69 per cent in the Vulnerable Road User Protection category, and 80 per cent in the Safety Assist category

“This five-star ANCAP Safety rating for the BYD Atto 3 will no doubt come as welcome news to New Zealand buyers looking for a safe and green choice within its price-point,” said ANCAP chief executive officer, Carla Hoorweg.

Australian supplied BYD vehicles are currently unrated.

The Volvo C40 Recharge, which competes in the same Small SUV market segment as the BYD Atto 3, also scored a five-star safety result in the latest round of testing.

Both single- and dual-motor variants were awarded maximum points for the level of protection offered to the driver and front passenger in the frontal offset test, and for the driver in the full width frontal test, side impact test, oblique pole test, and both far-side impact tests.

ANCAP said these scores were countered by the full 4.00-point penalty applied for vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility, with the C40 Recharge presenting a higher risk to occupants of an oncoming vehicle, if struck.

The Volvo C40 Recharge also scored maximum points for the protection of child occupants in the side impact and frontal offset crash tests. It also scored full points for its ability to maintain its intended lane of travel and avoid run-off-road crashes through its lane support system functionality while the AEB system also scored well.

The Volvo C40 Recharge scored 92 per cent in the Adult Occupant Protection category, 89 per cent in the Child Occupant Protection category, 70 per cent in the Vulnerable Road User Protection category, and 91 per cent in the Safety Assist category

The newly available Nissan Qashqai – another Small SUV contender – also performed well in ANCAP’s four key testing criterion with a five-star overall result issued.

ANCAP praised the Qashqai’s “advanced and robust range of collision avoidance technologies, awarding full points for the model’s active lane support and AEB junction and back-over capabilities, and solid scores for AEB pedestrian and cyclist performance. High scores were also awarded for the Qashqai’s performance in AEB car-to-car tests.

“Nissan is to be congratulated for the Qashqai’s range of active safety systems,” said Ms Hoorweg.

“The presence and performance of these features demonstrate the significant effort Nissan has made to offer the best safety equipment possible to Qashqai buyers.”

The Qashqai also received maximum points for the ability to protect the driver in the destructive side impact and oblique pole tests, however, only adequate marks were noted for the chest of the driver in the frontal offset and full width front tests, and marginal performance noted in the full width test for the chest of the (adult) rear seat passenger.

The Nissan Qashqai scored 91 per cent in the Adult Occupant Protection category, 93 per cent in the Child Occupant Protection category, 74 per cent in the Vulnerable Road User Protection category, and 97 per cent in the Safety Assist category

“By achieving these scores under ANCAP’s most stringent protocols, Nissan’s impressive safety performance will be welcomed by families and fleet buyers looking to purchase their next SUV,” said Ms Hoorweg.