ANCAP: Six new models awarded five-star safety

The 2026 Nissan Navara has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on its twin-under-the-skin Mitsubishi Triton, while a handful of other models also received the safety firm’s top safety rating, including the Volvo EX90, BYD Atto 1, MINI Aceman, MG QS, and updated Tesla Model Y. The Kia Tasman’s five-star rating was also extended to more variants, but not all of them.

The 2025 Kia Tasman’s five-star rating applied to all 4x4 variants except the X-Line and X-Pro has now been extended to dual-cab and cab-chassis 4x2 variants, following “technical information from Kia that 4x2 models offer comparable safety performance”.

X-Line and X-Pro versions of the Tasman pick-up remain unrated.

Elsewhere, ANCAP commended the high level of safety provided by six new or updated models in its latest batch of testing, including the Tesla Model Y (from May 2025), which achieved the top score for vehicles tested under 2023-2025 protocols in the safety assist portion of testing (92 per cent).

A 95% score for child, and 91% score for adult occupant protection also impressed.

The Volvo EX90 large electric SUV meantime scored high for its adult (92%) and child (94%) occupant protection, with ANCAP highlighting the fitment of an active bonnet and driver monitoring system that can detect an unresponsive driver, take control of the vehicle and bring it to a stop.

MG’s new QS SUV also scored five-stars, in a redeeming effort off the back of a recent recall for the smaller MG3, to rectify a potentially deadly driver’s seat defect identified during Euro NCAP testing earlier this year.

ANCAP says the new QS displayed “generally good” crash test performance, however, a ‘weak’ chest protection result for a rear passenger was noted in the full-width frontal test.

The cut-price BYD Atto 1 city EV also scored five-stars, while the new Navara ute – heavily based on the Mitsubishi Triton – adopted the latter’s five-star score under ANCAP’s “corporate twin” program.

 ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg said the results show that manufacturers are increasingly meeting the requirements of modern safety protocols for a range of vehicles and price points.

“Among this interesting mix of vehicles, it is positive to see the diminutive BYD Atto 1 arrive with a five-star rating. We know occupants of smaller cars are at greater risk due to their physical size, so this rating helps reinforce the benchmark for other manufacturers,” she said.

“For fleet operators, these results show that five-star safety is achievable across light commercial models and new-generation EVs alike, giving procurement teams clearer options when selecting safer vehicles for their employees.”

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