Dozens of new models from Mazda CX-3 to Toyota Prado lose their safety ratings

Two dozen of Australia’s most popular and in-demand models – including the Toyota Prado, Mitsubishi Triton, Mazda CX-3 and Mitsubishi ASX – were stripped of their official ANCAP safety ratings from January 1 following the implementation of the independent automotive safety organisation’s new six-year rating expiration policy.

The move was announced in February last year as a way to encourage manufacturers to regularly upgrade the safety credential of their older models, improve consistency across all ANCAP safety ratings and more accurately align crash testing with the “typical average model lifecycle” of passenger vehicles and SUVs.

The other primary intent is to better keep fleet buyers, many of which have prerequisites for a five-star ANCAP safety rating, up to date as to the safest vehicles for their workers.

This could cause quite the headache for buyers and brands alike given the fleet-favourite Prado (Australia’s top-selling large SUV) and Triton (the nation’s third most popular ute) no longer carry a current safety rating, just like the D23 Nissan Navara and original Volkswagen Amarok.

All four models are expected to be replaced within the next two years, but until then will be unrated by ANCAP.

According to an ANCAP spokesperson, 24 models from 16 different manufacturers lost their safety ratings on December 31 last year and are now listed on the safety body’s website as unrated.

The affected vehicles range from pint-size city-cars like the Mazda2, which has just been updated, right the way through to high-end premium offerings like the Maserati Ghibli and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Untested since 2015 or earlier, the full list of the now-unrated models can be found below – and it isn’t just fleet and luxury vehicles copping the brunt of the new policy.

Some of Australia’s most popular and even segment-leading consumer favourites like the Mazda CX-3, Mitsubishi ASX, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Volkswagen Passat are all now officially unrated.

Of course this doesn’t mean the vehicles are unsafe – their previous ratings and crash test report cards can still be found via the ‘How Safe Is Your Car’ database – as many of the unlisted models scored top five-star ratings under previous testing protocols.

However, in the eyes of ANCAP they’re not as safe as newer offerings within the same segments.

The six-year expiration period is back-dated to the model’s last official crash testing irrespective of how many facelifts or updates have been released since; if the vehicle hasn’t been resubmitted for testing then too bad.

Which vehicles lost their ANCAP rating from January 2023?

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