ANCAP: Five stars for Skoda Superb, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Kia Carnival

The 2025 Skoda Superb, 2025 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and 2025 Kia Carnival have reiterated that they are among some of the safest cars Australians can buy by securing five-star ANCAP ratings in the latest round of testing.

Both the sedan and wagon version of the Superb have been awarded the maximum rating, collecting an impressive 93 per cent score for Adult Occupant Protection.

Child occupant protection was also a high point for the Czech family car, with an 86 per cent score.

High marks (85 per cent) were also given for safety assist systems. The Superb’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system was found to deliver high levels of performance, preventing an accident with another vehicle, motorcyclist and pedestrian in the majority of test scenarios.

Finally, in pedestrian impact tests the Superb recorded an 82 per cent score.

The rating was based on Euro NCAP testing of the similar Volkswagen Passat wagon not sold in Australia. ANCAP says additional test data and technical information validated the result for the Skoda.

High levels of protection also come as standard with the 2025 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, its 92 per cent adult occupant protection score almost matching the Skoda.

But the premium sedan claimed a higher 91 per cent rating for child occupant protection.

An 88 per cent score was recorded for safety assist, while an 84 per cent rating was awarded for pedestrian impact.

The rating, based on Euro NCAP testing, applies to the E200 and E300 models and not the E53.

The 2025 Kia Carnival, meanwhile, bagged its five-star rating almost four years after it was introduced and now adds the hybrid version.

To claim the full five sparklers, the Carnival Hybrid gets extra protection for its high-voltage battery and electrical systems that was assessed via ANCAP frontal offset and oblique pole test. Meanwhile, from early 2024, all variants come with a centre airbag as standard.

As a result, adult occupant safety is a respectable 90 per cent, child occupant protection is rated at 88 per cent, while the driver assist tech is rated at 82 per cent.

However, the Carnival only scored 68 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection. It was let down by some weak or poor ratings for head strikes over the bonnet and an overly stiff windscreen.

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