26 October 2021 · Tips N' Tricks
ANCAP Safety Explained
How safe is your car?
How safe is your car? To find information relating solely to a vehicle’s safety, many of us research the vehicle’s ‘ANCAP rating.’ What is it and what does it mean? Here is our explanation...
As car owners begin the process of purchasing their next vehicle, there is no doubt that one of the major considerations most of them will have are the many aspects that fall under the heading of ‘safety.’
While many of these customers will research a vehicle’s safety features and technologies on the manufacturer’s website or by visiting a dealership to seek advice, a significant number of them will also seek more independent information that they consider to be more impartial.
Therefore to find information relating solely to a vehicle’s safety, many will research the vehicle’s ‘ANCAP rating.’
WHAT IS ANCAP?
ANCAP stands for Australasian New Car Assessment Program, more commonly referred to as ANCAP SAFETY. ANCAP is Australasia’s independent vehicle safety authority.
ANCAP shares common test and assessment protocols and policies with its European counterpart, Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program).
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW?
Since 1993, ANCAP has published safety ratings for thousands of different vehicle models and variants. These vehicles are awarded an ANCAP safety rating between 0 to 5 stars indicating the level of safety they provide in the event of a crash and their ability to avoid or minimise the effects of a crash.
The more stars a vehicle receives, the better it performed across ANCAP tests.
To achieve the maximum 5-Star ANCAP safety rating, a vehicle must achieve the highest standards in all tests and feature advanced safety assist technologies.
It is also important to note that the more recent the rating year, the more stringent the criteria the vehicle has been assessed against, as the testing requirements have become more demanding over the years in order to maximise road safety for all Australians.
Vehicles are evaluated against four key areas:
Click here to find out more about the ANCAP Safety Ratings.
Click here to find out more about the ANCAP Safety Testing Procedures.
HISTORICAL REQUIREMENTS
In the resource below you will see an ‘Evolution Timeline’ of 5-Star requirements up until 2020. From 2018 crash tests became more difficult; new dummies were introduced, including child dummies, and safety technology performance was tested. Then 2020 builds on 2018 with even more difficult crash tests and more safety technology required to achieve a 5-Star rating.
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO MAZDA VEHICLES?
Significantly, all current Mazda models have a 5-Star ANCAP rating based on the year in which they were tested and these range from the Mazda2’s 5-Star rating from 2015, right through to the BT-50's and MX-30’s 5-Star rating from the latest testing requirements of the year 2020.
MAZDA'S SAFETY PHILOSOPHY
These ratings are testament to Mazda’s commitment to the highest safety standards in our vehicle’s.
Mazda aims to offer all our customers both driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance. Based on this philosophy, Mazda is bolstering its safety research and development in order to accomplish their ultimate goal; the realization of a safe, accident-free automotive society.
To discover your perfect Zoom-Zoom today contact your Brisbane Mazda dealer, Mount Gravatt Mazda.
