Hot on the heels of the shocking Ford Mustang ANCAP rating, Isuzu’s new D-Max has kept its five-star rating.
THE NEW ISUZU D-MAX is being launched to Australian motoring writers today (Practical Motoring is attending the launch and will bring a full write-up later this week), and ANCAP has revealed the new ute has kept its five-star rating.
Based on tests conducted in 2013 by ANCAP and Euro NCAP, the independent collision safety agency has announced both the 4×4 and 4×2 D-Max variants retain their five-star rating with a score of 33.58 out of 37. Key competitor, Toyota HiLux, was tested in 2015 and scored 34.45 out of 37, so there’s clearly still room for the D-Max to improve. The key difference in the assessment was the pedestrian protection, which ANCAP stated was ‘marginal’ for the D-Max but ‘Good’ for the HiLux.
Like the Ford Mustang ANCAP and Euro NCAP slammed, neither the D-Max or HiLux offer active safety features like autonomous emergency braking. Does that suggest a five-star rating on a ute isn’t quite the same as a five-star rating on a passenger car?
Other utes tested recently by ANCAP and their scores:
Holden Colorado (tested in 2016): 34.89 out of 37;
Toyota LandCruiser Cab Chassis (tested in 2016): 35.75 out of 37.
Stay tuned for our first drive review of the new Isuzu D-Max.
