Hyundai’s Accent on safety

HYUNDAI’S Australian launch of its all-new Accent received a boost today when the Korean-built light car was named among five new vehicles to win five-star crash safety ratings from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

Among the others was the Toyota Rukus compact crossover, which was elevated from four stars to maximum five stars after Toyota submitted the Corolla-based vehicle for an optional pole crash test to gain the extra two points required to get the Rukus across the line and into the top bracket.

Peugeot’s mid-sized 508, the Lexus CT200h hybrid and Volvo V60 wagon also all made the top rank of the ANCAP safety ratings after the independent crash test organisation rubber-stamped results of near-identical cars in Europe.

The Hyundai Accent breezed through the local crash test regime at Sydney’s CrashLab, scoring a total of 35.66 points out of a possible 37.

This result puts the car in the same league as some highly fancied European cars. In the small-car class as defined by ANCAP, it trails only the top-scoring Honda Insight (36.39), Alfa Romeo MiTo (36.1) and Mercedes-Benz A-class (35.96).

Left: Toyota Rukus, Volvo V60, Lexus CT200h, Peugeot 508.

In the offset crash test, the Accent scored 14.66 out of 16, with ANCAP commenting that the passenger compartment held its shape well.

The only slight risk of serious injury was to the driver’s chest and to the legs of the driver and front passenger.

In the side crash test, Accent scored a clean-sweep 16 points out of 16, and then received a further two points for the optional pole test.

Confident of a good result, Hyundai helped facilitate the ANCAP test by supplying cars ahead of the official on-sale date.

The Accent joins stablemates Elantra, i45, ix35, Santa Fe and i30 in the five-star club.

The Rukus was elevated to a five-star rating after Toyota agreed to submit the vehicle to the optional pole test.

In June, the Rukus was rated as a four-star performer, scoring 30.61 points out of 37. It scored 12.61 points out of 16 in the frontal offset test and full points (16 out of 16) in the side impact crash test.

At the time, ANCAP highlighted concerns about leg protection for the driver, which was assessed as ‘marginal’.

The overall result was just short of five-star, prompting Toyota to agree to ANCAP’s pole crash test which, if successful, adds a further two points. This brought the tally to 32.61 and five stars.

ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh said the results continued the move to five-star safety as the norm for Australian manufacturers, importers and motorists.

“ANCAP is pleased to see this bonanza of five-star ratings in the interests of Australian motorists, and we will continue to provide as many ratings as possible for consumers to assist their purchase,” he said.

“The Accent continues Hyundai’s safety focus – it tested well and includes six airbags, electronic stability control and seatbelt reminders for all seats as standard across the range.

“The Rukus achieved a five-star rating, bringing yet another Toyota product into the top- rated five-star safety club.”