Australian Safety Ratings

For buyers with a keen focus on car safety, crash test ratings are now as important as form and function of a new car. The number of air bags, stability control and anti-lock braking are just a few of the important criteria to feature on a new car checklists. They are also features that just may help to prevent serious injury in a crisis or collision situation.

ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) is the local regulatory body which tests the crash safety protection provided by cars entering the Australian market. Both side and front end collisions are tested and ANCAP awards cars a rating out of five stars - five being the best.

ANCAP bases this rating on four internationally recognised crash tests; offset frontal, side impact, pedestrian and pole impact test.  This gives an assessment of impact not only with another vehicle, but also with stationery items and pedestrians - measuring the injury to the pedestrian struck.  To assess in cabin passenger safety, ANCAP use crash test dummies to achieve full accident simulation results - this includes adult and child size dummies, using child seats/restraints where appropriate.  Other safety features such as seat belt reminder warnings are also taken into account.

In 2007, the Federal Government supported a move to have all new cars fitted with electronic stability control. And recent changes to ANCAP ratings mean that cars that do not have electronic stability control are ineligible of a five star rating. ANCAP suggest that a reasonable benchmark would be a car that scores four stars or higher.  

ANCAP testing is also comparable to the European NCAP testing criteria. To view the latest crash test results or to view ratings on specific cars, visit the ANCAP website.