ANCAP: Five stars for Omoda 9, Audi Q5 and LDV Terron 9 

Three new models have been awarded the maximum five-star safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), with the Audi Q5, Omoda 9 and LDV Terron 9 clinching the maximum rating based on overseas crash testing, although the latter's result has courted controversy as the safety body used the electric version's crash test as its guide. 

ANCAP has awarded three new vehicles full marks for safety using EuroNCAP crash tests as a guide, with the Audi Q5, Omoda 9 and LDV Terron 9 all awarded the full five stars. 

The 2025 LDV Terron 9 ute result has drawn criticism from some commentators as its result is based on the crash test performance of the all-electric version, badged eTerron 9, that features a very different powertrain to the turbo-diesel version Australians are offered. 

Muddying the results further, as well as sporting a large battery pack, the eTerron 9 has a large frunk with a 259-litre luggage space that could have influenced the dual-cab's performance in frontal crash tests. 

Finally, the huge weight differences between both the turbo-diesel (2400-2495kg) and the eTerron 9 (2880kg) could also affect results. 

Ignoring the powertrain discrepancy, the LDV Terron 9 scored a 91 per cent in adult occupant protection, while its safety systems were awarded an 84 per cent rating, with ANCAP announcing that the dual-cab's high score was an "excellent result for LDV's new generation ute." 

The third-gen Audi Q5’s five-star rating was said to have come largely from its impressive ability to prevent a crash, thanks to its advanced AEB features that were awarded a perfect score for forward, junction and T-bone crossing tests, while full points were given for AEB motorcyclist tests. 

Occupant protection was strong too (85 per cent), with good scores achieved for the driver safety in the full width front, side impact, far side impact and poles tests. 

A child occupant protection score of 86 per cent also impressed. 

An area for improvement for the Q5, however, was its head-on collision performance, with ANCAP noting it posed a higher risk to oncoming vehicles, on average. 

The larger family-sized plug-in Omoda 9, meanwhile, scored 90 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child protection, 82 per cent for its driver assist tech and an 81 per cent score for pedestrian impact. 

Both the Audi Q5 and Omoda 9 results will have valid ratings until the end of 2031. 

The latest reports of ANCAP using a ute with an EV powertrain instead of the turbo-diesel offered locally raises questions over the legitimacy of its rating, even though there's nothing to suggest both electric and diesel dual-cab won't both provide the same levels of protection should the worst happen. 

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