Both the Hyundai Kona and Holden Equinox scored five start ANCAP ratings in score released today, with the MG ZS falling short.
THE HYUNDAI KONA has scored a five-star ANCAP rating alongside the Holden Equinox, although ANCAP was critical of the new Holden SUV suggesting buyers would have to spend more on top-spec models to get automatic emergency braking.
“SUVs are now the top-selling vehicle segment in Australia and New Zealand and these ratings speak clearly that some are safer than others,” said ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin.
“We were impressed earlier this year with the safety performance of MG’s larger GS model – the very first Chinese vehicle to achieve the top safety rating – however its smaller stablemate, the ZS, does not perform as well. Its rating is held back to 4 stars due to sub-par performance in our head-on crash test.”
The MG ZS scored 10.46 points out of 16.00 points in the frontal offset crash test, ANCAP said. Insufficient inflation of the passenger airbag caused ‘bottoming-out’ of the dummy head through the airbag and onto the dash, and a penalty was applied, the independent crash test organisation announced. “Protection for the driver’s knee area was also insufficient. The ZS does not offer any form of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) or lane support functions.”
The Kona performed well with ANCAP praising the fact that AEB was available across the range in New Zealand but lamenting the fact it’s not available in Australia
“Its crash test performance was well within 5-star range, and AEB is offered for all variants though it must be optioned on the base variant in Australia. AEB is, however, a standard inclusion on all New Zealand variants.”
“The Equinox is also a good structural performer in all physical crash tests, but consumers will need to opt for higher-specced variants to receive the added safety benefits of AEB and lane keep assist,” he said.
