Alfa Romeo Stelvio gets five-star ANCAP rating

ANCAP has released its latest set of safety ratings this week, with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio scoring top marks, while the Citroen C3 scored a disappointing four stars.

Based on tests conducted by sister agency, Euro NCAP, the Stelvio scored an impressive 97 per cent for adult occupant protection – just shy of the related Giulia sedan's record 98 per cent score.

The five-star rating applies to all 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre versions of the Stelvio.

"These are impressive scores which reflect the effort the brand has put into designing vehicles to keep occupants safe," said James Goodwin, ANCAP CEO.

"With Adult Occupant Protection we look at how a vehicle performs structurally across a range of destructive crash tests, but also how well the restraint systems work to minimise injury. Low speed autonomous emergency braking also forms part of this."

Things weren't so great for the recently-launched Citroen C3, managing four stars based on crash tests conducted by Euro NCAP.

Despite scoring 88 per cent for adult occupant protection and 83 per cent for child protection, the C3 fell down in the areas of pedestrian protection (59 per cent) and safety assist (58 per cent).

ANCAP noted the C3's design poses a head injury risk should it collide with a pedestrian, and the lack of autonomous emergency braking technology.

New Zealand models will get the option of AEB from March 2018 production – though Australia will continue to miss out regardless.

"Unfortunately the C3 falls down in the Pedestrian Protection aspects of our assessment," Goodwin said.

"We may not all be drivers, but we are all pedestrians so it is important the design and specification of a vehicle considers the safety of those inside as well as outside the vehicle."

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