ANCAP Safety has issued five-star safety ratings, all based on Euro NCAP testing, for the Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicle (EV) and two new alternative-powered Volvo XC40 variants – the T5 Recharge plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) and T8 Recharge EV.
According to ANCAP, the Ioniq 5 provides the full complement of active and passive safety features and technologies, enabling it to score the top star rating to the latest ANCAP criteria. High scores were achieved in the full width frontal test, which features two smaller-statured female crash test dummies; the side impact test, which simulates the effects of a T-bone intersection crash; and the oblique pole test, which evaluates the risk of head injury to the driver should the vehicle run off the road and strike a tree or pole.
The design of the Ioniq 5 was also assessed for its ability to protect occupants of other vehicles it may come into contact with. ANCAP said the vehicle presented an impressively low risk to the ‘crash partner’ vehicle with a minimal 0.22-point penalty applied – the best score ANCAP has observed in this assessment area since vehicle compatibility scoring was introduced in 2020.
“The Ioniq 5’s good measure of safety performance, coupled with its green drivetrain, provides families and fleet buyers with a good all-round choice,” said Carla Hoorweg, Chief Executive Officer of ANCAP.
“We know safety and environmental performance are top-of-mind considerations for the majority of new car buyers today, and it’s pleasing to see Hyundai prioritise five-star safety in this new market offering.”
The newly-released PHEV and pure electric variants of the Volvo XC40 carry the same five-star safety rating awarded to petrol and diesel models rated by ANCAP in 2018. This rating extension follows additional testing undertaken on the alternatively-powered T5 Recharge and T8 Recharge variants to ensure equivalent levels of safety performance.
“To ensure safety is not compromised for consumers wanting to buy an alternative-powered vehicle, for battery and hybrid electric vehicles, we conduct additional checks to make sure they don’t pose unique risks such as battery rupture or electrical hazards to the occupants or first responders,” Hoorweg added.
“This gives consumers peace of mind and assists fleet buyers in meeting their safety and environmental targets.”
The Hyundai Tucson also achieved a five-star ANCAP safety rating following its release into the Australian market earlier this year. ANCAP said similar levels of safety performance to that of the Ioniq 5 were seen with the Tucson.
According to ANCAP, higher variants of the Tucson offer a child presence detection (CPD) system which provides the driver with an audible alert if movement is detected in the second-row seats after the ignition has been turned off and the car locked. CPD systems will be formally assessed, along with their contribution to a vehicle’s overall safety rating, from 2023.