ANCAP calls on Hyundai to upgrade Kona

Independent automotive safety authority ANCAP has encouraged Hyundai to update its new Kona compact SUV to five stars rather than call for a reframing of how its safety rating system is regarded.

The new-generation 2024 Hyundai Kona received a four-star ANCAP safety rating in January, which excludes it from purchase consideration by many large commercial and government fleets.

As we reported yesterday, Hyundai Motor Company Australia COO John Kett has called for a rethink of the policy, pointing out that four stars is seen as acceptable in Europe, where ENCAP applies the same testing protocols as ANCAP.

But in a statement supplied to carsales in response to Kett’s statement, ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg made it clear she thought Hyundai’s performance in safety testing was at issue, not the process itself.

“Several of Hyundai’s recent models have fallen just shy of five-star requirements, which is disappointing for consumers and fleet buyers,” said Hoorweg.

“Competitor brands continue to strive for and, in the vast majority of cases, meet five-star requirements whether they are fleet-focussed models or not.

“We’d encourage Hyundai to implement updates to the Kona with its next mid-life update.”

The Kona was limited to four ANCAP stars due to its performance in the assessment areas of Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist, where thresholds of 70 per cent apply to qualify for a five-star rating. The Kona achieved scores of 64 per cent and 62 per cent in these areas respectively.

Kett argued that the Kona is a safer car with four stars based on 2023-2025 ANCAP protocols than a car with five stars based on 2020-2022 protocols.

But ANCAP says such a comparison is not possible because of the changing tests, dummies and equipment criteria that are introduced with each new protocol window.

The new Kona’s performance in pedestrian impact protection was marginal when considered against either the 2020-2022 or 2023-2025 criteria, ANCAP said.

“Achieving a five-star rating for the Kona is an opportunity that Hyundai appears to have overlooked with their design,” said Hoorweg.

“Pedestrian impact protection is an important element of modern vehicle design and ANCAP’s criteria seek to reduce injury to pedestrians and cyclists that come into contact with the front bumper, bonnet and windscreen area.

“Many other brands have achieved five stars under the latest protocols.”

“The important message for fleets and consumers is that five-star cars rated against today’s protocols are safer than four-star cars rated against today’s protocols.”

Kett won’t be surprised his comments have drawn a negative response from ANCAP.

“When you talk about it [safety ratings] openly it’s as though you want to hurt someone, so you just don’t talk about it,” he said. “We can’t have a mature conversation.”

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au