In ANCAP rating released overnight, both the 2015 Mazda2 and CX-3 have been awarded a 5 star rating, while the 2015 Audi TT managed just 4 stars.

ANCAP HAS ANNOUNCED the 2015 Mazda2 (36.35/37) and CX-3 (36.44/37) are the latest vehicles to join the ‘5 Star club’ with both vehicles offering “very good occupant and pedestrian protection and have Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) available as an option”. But the 2015 Audi TT managed to score just 4 stars (Practical Motoring is seeking clarification for the TT’s ‘out of 37 score).

According to ANCAP, “Although the TT performed well in numerous areas for adult occupants and pedestrian protection, insufficient Safety Assist Technologies and inadequate child occupant protection – caused the TTs overall rating to be limited to 4 stars.”

For comparison, the Audi TT received a 68% mark for child occupant protection while the Mazda2 scored, well, it’s not listed in the ANCAP technical breakdown of the test. The Mazda2 test was performed by ANCAP, while the TT was tested by EuroNCAP and then those results assessed. Practical Motoring is seeking clarification of the types of detail listing… We’ll update this article when we hear back.

While ANCAP is calling for more makers to offer Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) as standard, both Mazda models offer it as a cost-option. We’ve explained HERE that AEB isn’t the foolproof solution some organisations are claiming, but we agree that it should be a standard offering as yet another level of extra safety in new cars. Nothing, however, can replace drivers simply paying more attention to what’s going on around them and less on Facebook while driving.

“It is great to see AEB becoming more common in the Australian new car market, but we would like to see AEB as a standard feature in new vehicles, rather than as an optional extra” said ANCAP CEO, Mr Nicholas Clarke.

“International studies have shown the effectiveness of AEB systems in preventing real world crashes may be higher than 50%.1 The introduction of more advanced AEB systems – which work at a range of speeds, and which are able to detect other obstacles such as pedestrians and cyclists – will contribute to a further reduction in the number and severity of road crashes” said Mr Clarke. Not all AEB systems are sophisticated enough to recognise elements such as pedestrians stepping out at the last minute from behind a parked car, but many of the new systems being introduced onto 2015 models can.