Family focus with latest ANCAP safety results

Safe family motoring is a focus with the latest results from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme.

A people mover from Kia and one of New Zealand’s most popular cars have each been awarded a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Recently launched on the New Zealand market, the Kia Carens (Kia Rondo in Australia) and the Mazda6 performed strongly in their crash tests.

Both vehicles have dual frontal, side chest and curtain airbags as standard. However, curtain airbags are not fitted for the third row of the Carens.  Also standard for both vehicles are antilock brakes (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD) and electronic stability control (ESC).

AA Motoring Services General Manager Stella Stocks says it is pleasing the popular Mazda6 performed so strongly.

“Kiwis took to the Mazda6 from its initial introduction and its popularity has significantly increased in the years since. That Mazda continues to invest to ensure subsequent models are safer is a testament of its commitment to consumers and also other road users,” she says.

Ms Stocks says it is also fantastic to see a people mover in the mix with the Kia Carens receiving a 5-star ANCAP safety rating with ease.

“People movers are a favourite for larger families and community groups. The Carens has been absent from our market for a couple of years but now it’s back and with a 5-star rating it offers Kiwi buyers a safe and affordable option.”

Transport Agency Access and Use General Manager Celia Patrick says the NZTA is working to improve the safety of New Zealand’s vehicle fleet as part of the Government’s Safer Journeys strategy and it was great news that the range of top safety-rated cars was continuing to grow.

"Crash statistics show that occupants of 5-star-rated vehicles are much less likely to receive life-threatening injuries in a crash than occupants of lower rated vehicles. With today's safety technology 5-star ratings are increasingly become the norm, and we urge people to buy the safest vehicle they can afford.”

ANCAP has also awarded a 5-star safety rating to the Renault Clio 3-cylinder engine variants. This model is expected to be introduced to the New Zealand market in 2014.

ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.

The full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings, other vehicle safety information and the specifications of the rated vehicles are available online at aa.co.nz or rightcar.govt.nz.

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