The latest round of ANCAP crash testing has delivered a strong set of scores, with the Holden Colorado, Hyundai i30 and Subaru BRZ all achieving the maximum five-star result.
The Holden Colorado crew-cab joins the growing list of light commercial vehicles to earn five stars for safety, ranking alongside the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, Volkswagen Amarok, and the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore utes.
The crew-cab variant, which accounts for approximately 80 per cent of Colorado sales, launched in Australia last month. It comes standard with electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) and four airbags (two front airbags and two full-length curtains).
ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh said it was encouraging to see another light commercial vehicle earn top marks for safety.
“It’s satisfying to see manufacturers lifting the safety of light commercial vehicles (LCVs),” McIntosh said. “Manufacturers have been incorporating greater levels of safety into passenger vehicles for some time now, yet the safety of LCVs has trailed.
“Pressure not only from ANCAP, but now big business, is encouraging manufacturers to elevate safety as a priority in the design and construction of new LCVs, and consumers are the winners.”
The second-generation Hyundai i30 repeated the efforts of the first-generation hatchback in earning its five-star rating. The new model takes the small car’s safety to new heights, with seven airbags, rear parking sensors and Hyundai’s Vehicle Stability Management system standard across the range. A rear-view camera is also included as standard in the mid-spec Elite, which starts from $24,590.
And although it’s a departure from the brand’s all-wheel-drive-only philosophy, the Subaru BRZ does not break from tradition when it comes to safety, matching the maximum five-star rating of the rest of Subaru Australia’s line-up.
On sale in Australia this month, the BRZ will match its sister car, the Toyota 86, for standard safety kit, incorporating seven airbags and ESC as well as a number of other active and passive systems.
Although not yet official, the 86 is also in line to achieve a five-star safety rating.