ANCAP: Comparing ripe and rotten apples

Are you planning to buy a car secure in the knowledge it has received a favourable score from the Australasian New Car Assessment programme, otherwise known as ANCAP?

If so, would it surprise you to learn a commendation from ANCAP often comes with some qualification, and that qualification – like the fine print in a legal disclaimer – is frequently overlooked by consumers.

One example was the Hyundai i30, tested by ANCAP in April. Within the 2017 criteria for ANCAP testing, the i30 achieved a five-star rating. In other words, Hyundai's small hatch comes highly recommended to consumers, despite the test results being drawn from the Elantra – the sedan version of the i30 – tested the year before.

Here's what ANCAP wrote in the technical report for the i30: "The ANCAP safety rating for the i30 is based on crash tests of the Hyundai Elantra. ANCAP was provided with technical information which showed that the crash test results of the Elantra apply to the i30."

It seems ANCAP accepted Hyundai's word that the hard points and crash structure for the i30 were identical to the Elantra's. Totally reasonable, given both cars are known to be built on the same platform and share nearly everything forward of the C pillars.

Yet Toyota's Aurion and Camry were tested separately, even though they're basically the same car with the same crash structure. All that really distinguishes the two Toyotas is a V6 engine in one and a four-cylinder in the other.

Another anomaly is the case of the Honda Jazz and Honda City, which have been crash-tested separately, despite sharing a platform.

And while Euro NCAP has tested the Range Rover, which shares the same frontal crash structure with the Range Rover Sport, there's been no attempt to rate the seven-seat SUV – either in a computer simulation or in reality.

Crash data from overseas
The fact is, many of the cars rated by ANCAP are not actually tested locally. The information comes from other crash-test organisations around the world – usually Euro NCAP – or is based on cars which have already been tested here and are structurally similar. Examples of the latter include the i30 and Elantra already mentioned, or the Subaru Levorg and WRX.

In the case of vehicles tested in other jurisdictions, Kia has found to its cost – with the Carnival people mover – that passing a crash test and earning a high score in a left-hand drive market doesn't necessarily translate here in right-hand drive Australia. Yet ANCAP frequently accepts crash-test data from its counterparts in left-hand drive markets to extrapolate a rating in Australia.

The ANCAP result for the Carnival came as a surprise to Kia Australia, which leads us to question whether the 'same data' is necessarily 'the same' in reality when the steering wheel is mirrored.

Many of the cars rated at five stars by ANCAP - and still available new - were tested in earlier years and subject to easier test protocols. Some of the 'five-star' rated cars were tested up to 10 years ago… or more. If tested again in 2017 they would not necessarily achieve a five-star result.

In fact, many of those earlier tests listed at the ANCAP website lack the 'date stamp' which ANCAP itself insists will clear up any consumer confusion about the weighting of each particular five-star score.

We've compiled a list of cars still for sale new and rated at five stars by ANCAP, but that rating may not hold up to closer scrutiny, or the rating may be confusing.

All vehicles listed are five-star rated and were tested by Euro NCAP, except where noted:

Alfa Romeo Giulietta – LHD tested for 2011, diesel only

Audi A1 – LHD three-door tested for 2010, results applied to five-door variants
Audi A3 – LHD three-door tested for 2013, results applied to five-door variants
Audi A4 – LHD tested for 2015
Audi A5 – LHD, results based on A4 tested for 2015 and applied to coupe and Sportback
Audi A6 – LHD diesel tested for 2011, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Audi Q2 – LHD tested for 2017
Audi Q3 – LHD petrol FWD tested for 2012, results applied to diesel and AWD variants
Audi Q5 – LHD tested for 2017
Audi Q5/SQ5 – LHD test, diesel, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Audi Q7 – LHD tested for 2015
Audi TT – RHD tested for 2015

BMW 1 Series – LHD tested for 2011, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer – LHD tested for 2015, four-star, applies to three-cylinder variants only
BMW 3 Series – LHD diesel tested for 2012, applies to 320d only
BMW 5 Series – LHD, results apply to 520d only
BMW i3 – LHD tested for 2014, rated five stars without rear seatbelt reminders
BMW X1 – LHD tested for 2016
BMW X3 – LHD diesel tested for 2011, results not applicable for all local-spec variants

Citroen Berlingo – LHD diesel tested for 2011, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Citroen C4 – LHD diesel tested for 2011, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso – LHD diesel tested for 2014
Citroen C5 – LHD diesel manual tested for 2008, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Citroen DS3 – LHD tested for 2011
Citroen DS4 – LHD tested for 2012, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Citroen DS5 – LHD diesel tested for 2013

Fiat 500 – LHD tested for 2008, results not applicable for all local-spec variants

Ford Fiesta – LHD 1.3-litre petrol tested for 2013 after seven airbags became standard
Ford EcoSport – LHD diesel tested for 2013
Ford Escape – LHD test of Kuga in 2012
Ford Fiesta – LHD 1.3-litre petrol tested for 2013 after seven airbags became standard
Ford Focus – LHD tested for 2010 for pre-facelift model
Ford Mondeo – LHD tested for 2015
Ford Mustang – LHD tested for 2017, two-star, V8 only, EcoBoost ‘unrated'
Ford Ranger – RHD tested for 2011
Ford Transit Custom – LHD tested for 2012, rating applies only to vehicles post-March 2016

Holden Astra hatch – LHD tested for 2015, Astra R variant ‘unrated'
Holden Barina – LHD tested for 2011
Holden Caprice* – RHD tested for 2013, results based on sedan and wagon
Holden Captiva 7 – RHD tested for 2011, diesel front-wheel drive model, 4WD variants ‘unrated'
Holden Commodore Ute* – tested for 2013, results based on sedan and wagon
Holden Trailblazer* – RHD tested for 2016 based on Colorado pick-up results
Holden Trax – LHD diesel tested for 2013

Honda City* – RHD tested for 2014
Honda Civic hatch~ – RHD tested for 2017, results based on sedan test
Honda Civic sedan~ – RHD tested for 2016
Honda CR-V* – RHD tested for 2012
Honda HR-V~ – RHD tested for 2015
Honda Jazz~ – RHD tested for 2014
Honda Odyssey* – RHD tested for 2014

Hyundai Accent* – RHD tested for 2011, hatch results applied to sedan variants
Hyundai Genesis* – RHD tested for 2014, results based on ANCAP ‘niche vehicle policy'
Hyundai i30* – RHD tested for 2016, results based on sedan (Elantra) test
Hyundai i40 – LHD tested for 2013, results only apply for vehicles built after February 2015
Hyundai iLoad* – RHD tested for 2009, four stars, testing conducted by South Korean government
Hyundai iMax* – RHD tested for 2009, iLoad four-star result, testing conducted by South Korean government
Hyundai Santa Fe – LHD tested for 2012, diesel results applied to petrol V6 variants also
Hyundai Sonata* – RHD tested for 2015
Hyundai Tucson* – RHD tested for 2016, vehicles built prior to November/December are four-star or ‘unrated'
Hyundai Veloster – LHD tested for 2015

Infiniti Q30 – LHD tested for 2016
Infiniti Q50 – LHD tested for 2014, diesel results applied to all rear-wheel drive variants in Australia

Isuzu D-MAX – RHD tested for 2012, four-star, does not apply to crew cab variants from different production dates
Isuzu MU-X* – Tested by ANCAP (2013) and Euro NCAP (2012), results based on D-MAX pick-up

Jaguar XE – RHD tested for 2015
Jaguar XF – RHD tested for 2016

Jeep Cherokee – LHD tested for 2016, applies to four-cylinder variants only, V6 variants are ‘unrated'
Jeep Compass – LHD tested for 2012, diesel, four-star, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Jeep Grand Cherokee* – RHD tested for 2014, applies to only V6 variants built after March 2013
Jeep Patriot* – RHD tested for 2011, applies to front-wheel drive variants only, 4WD variants are ‘unrated'
Jeep Renegade – LHD tested for 2014, rating applies to front-wheel drive models only, post-May 2016
Jeep Wrangler* – RHD tested for 2012, four-star, applies to SWB variants only

Kia Carnival* – RHD tested twice, five-star rating applies to vehicles built from December 23, 2015
Kia Cerato* – RHD tested for 2014
Kia Optima – LHD tested for 2015
Kia Picanto – Tested by Euro NCAP in 2011 and by ANCAP in 2016 after poor result in Indonesia crash test
Kia Rondo – LHD tested for 2013
Kia Sorento – LHD tested for 2015
Kia Sportage* – RHD tested for 2016

Land Rover Discovery Sport – RHD tested for 2014
Land Rover Range Rover – LHD tested for 2013, diesel, TDV8 and petrol variants are ‘unrated'
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque – RHD tested for 2011, diesel, results not applicable for all local-spec variants

LDV 80* – RHD tested for 2015, applies to SWB low-roof van with stability control built from September 2015

Lexus CT200h – RHD tested for 2014
Lexus IS – RHD tested for 2016, applies to post-October 2016 production
Lexus NX – LHD tested for 2015
Lexus RX – LHD tested for 2015

Mahindra Pik-Up* – RHD tested for 2012, three-star for vehicles built from January 2012, two for earlier vehicles
Mahindra XUV500* – RHD tested for 2012, applies to 4WD variants only

Maserati – LHD tested for 2014

Mercedes-Benz B-Class – LHD tested for 2012, diesel
Mercedes-Benz C-Class – LHD tested for 2014, diesel
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class – LHD tested for 2013, 1.6-litre petrol, Shooting Brake models ‘unrated'
Mercedes-Benz E-Class – LHD tested for 2016
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class – LHD tested for 2015
Mercedes-Benz M-Class (now GLE) – LHD tested for 2011, petrol V6, not applicable for all local-spec variants
Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo – LHD tested for 2014, results based on standard V-Class
Mercedes-Benz V-Class – LHD tested for 2014
Mercedes-Benz Valente – LHD tested for 2014, results based on standard V-Class
Mercedes-Benz Vito – LHD tested for 2014, results based on standard V-Class

MG 6 – RHD tested for 2013, four stars
MG GS* – RHD tested for 2016, four stars

MINI Cooper hatch – RHD tested for 2014, four stars, applies to three-door hatch only
MINI Countryman – RHD tested for 2017, applies to Cooper D only

Mitsubishi ASX* – RHD tested in 2010, date-stamped 2014, applies to vehicles built post November 2016
Mitsubishi Lancer* – RHD tested in 2008, date-stamped 2013, applies to vehicles built post November 2015
Mitsubishi Mirage* – RHD tested for 2013
Mitsubishi Outlander – LHD tested for 2014
Mitsubishi Pajero* – RHD tested for 2011, applies to vehicles built from April 2013
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport* – RHD tested for 2015, results based on Triton pick-up
Mitsubishi Triton* – RHD tested for 2015

Nissan Altima* – RHD tested for 2013
Nissan Juke – LHD tested for 2011, 1.6-litre FWD, other variants are ‘unrated'
Nissan LEAF – RHD tested for 2011
Nissan Navara * – RHD tested for 2015, results based on dual-cab, applies to King Cab and Single Cab variants
Nissan Pathfinder* – RHD tested for 2013
Nissan Qashqai – LHD tested for 2014, diesel
Nissan X-TRAIL – LHD tested for 2014, diesel

Peugeot 208 – LHD tested for 2012, diesel
Peugeot 2008 – LHD tested for 2013, diesel, results based on 208 hatch
Peugeot 308 – LHD tested for 2014, diesel
Peugeot 3008 – LHD tested for 2010, diesel
Peugeot 508 – LHD tested for 2011
Peugeot 5008 – LHD tested for 2013, diesel

Proton Exora* – RHD tested for 2013, four-star
Proton Preve* – RHD tested for 2013
Proton Suprima S* – RHD tested for 2013, results based on Preve sedan

Renault Captur – LHD tested for 2013, three-cylinder variants only
Renault Clio – LHD tested for 2013, diesel
Renault Kangoo – LHD tested for 2011, diesel, results not applicable for all local-spec variants

Skoda Fabia – LHD tested for 2015
Skoda Kodiaq – LHD tested for 2017
Skoda Octavia – LHD tested for 2016, front-wheel drive variants only
Skoda Rapid – LHD tested for 2014, applies to petrol four-cylinder variants only
Skoda Superb – LHD tested for 2015, front-wheel drive variants only
Skoda Yeti – LHD tested for 2011, diesel all-wheel drive, results not applicable for all local-spec variants

Subaru BRZ* – RHD tested for 2012, results based on ANCAP ‘niche vehicle policy'
Subaru Forester* – RHD tested for 2013
Subaru Impreza* – RHD tested for 2016
Subaru Levorg* – RHD tested for 2016, results based on WRX
Subaru Liberty* – RHD tested for 2015, results based on Outback
Subaru Outback* – RHD tested for 2015
Subaru WRX* – RHD tested for 2014, results based on ANCAP ‘niche vehicle policy'
Subaru XV* – RHD tested for 2017, results based on Impreza sedan

Suzuki APV* – RHD tested for 2008, three stars
Suzuki Celerio – LHD tested for 2015, four stars
Suzuki Grand Vitara – LHD tested for 2006, diesel, four stars, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Suzuki S-Cross – LHD tested for 2013
Suzuki Vitara* – RHD tested for 2015

Tata Xenon* – RHD tested for 2013, four stars

Tesla Model S – LHD tested for 2015, applies to vehicles built after September 2014

Toyota 86* – RHD tested for 2012, results based on Subaru BRZ, ANCAP ‘niche vehicle policy' applies
Toyota Aurion* – RHD tested for 2014
Toyota Camry* – RHD tested for 2013
Toyota C-HR – LHD tested for 2017
Toyota Corolla hatch* – RHD tested for 2016, applies all hatch variants built from June 2016
Toyota Corolla sedan* – RHD tested for 2014, applies to all sedans built from November 2016
Toyota Fortuner – Tested by ASEAN NCAP and ANCAP, results based on HiLux Pick-up
Toyota Kluger* – RHD tested for 2014, applies to vehicles built from November 2016
Toyota HiAce* – RHD tested for 2011, four stars, applies to vehicles built from September 17, 2011
Toyota HiLux* – RHD tested for 2015
Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series* – RHD tested for 2016, applies to single-cab variants only, others ‘unrated'
Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series* – RHD tested for 2011, applies to vehicles built from August 2015
Toyota Prado* – RHD tested for 2009
Toyota Prius* – RHD tested for 2016
Toyota Prius C* – RHD tested for 2014
Toyota Prius V* – RHD tested for 2015
Toyota RAV4 – LHD tested for 2016
Toyota Tarago* – RHD tested for 2010, applies to all vehicles built after October 2010
Toyota Yaris – LHD tested for 2011, results based on three-door variant, applies to five door variants

Volkswagen Amarok – LHD tested for 2011, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Volkswagen Golf – LHD tested for 2013, Golf Alltrack is ‘unrated'
Volkswagen Jetta – LHD tested for 2011, applies to 1.2 or 1.4-litre variants, other variants are ‘unrated'
Volkswagen Passat – LHD tested for 2015
Volkswagen Polo – LHD tested for 2011
Volkswagen Tiguan – LHD tested for 2016

Volvo S60 – LHD tested for 2011, diesel, results based on V60 wagon, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Volvo S90 – LHD tested for 2017
Volvo V40 – LHD tested for 2013, applies to D2 variants only
Volvo V60 – LHD tested for 2011, diesel, results not applicable for all local-spec variants
Volvo XC90 – LHD tested for 2015

* Test conducted by ANCAP
~ Test conducted by ASEAN NCAP