Five-star safety for Tesla Model Y, Genesis GV60 and Kia Niro

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has awarded a trio of five-star ratings to three of Australia’s newest electrified SUVs in the Tesla Model Y, Genesis GV60 and Kia Niro.

While all three were awarded five stars by the local independent auto safety body, following physical crash tests by Euro NCAP, it was the Model Y that netted the highest marks across all four key testing areas.

The new electric SUV scored 97 per cent for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 82 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 98 per cent for its safety assist systems.

The newly-launched Tesla Model Y’s safety assist score is actually an all-time record for ANCAP, while the adult occupant protection score is the highest recorded to date under the latest 2020-22 protocols.

The upcoming Genesis GV60 electric SUV, meanwhile, notched up scores of 89 per cent, 89 per cent, 63 per cent and 88 per cent respectively, with the main stumbling point being its vulnerable road user protection.

According to the full crash report, the first bespoke Genesis EV notched up just 0.45 points out of a possible six (resulting in a ‘poor’ score) when it came to pelvis protection, however, it did perform well (‘good’) for leg protection.

The Kia Niro’s five-star safety rating applies to all variants of the small electrified SUV launched locally earlier this year, including all three – hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric – powertrains.

The compact Korean scored 88 per cent for its adult occupant protection, 84 per cent for child occupant protection,76 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 87 per cent for its safety assist systems.

ANCAP chief executive officer Carla Hoorweg said the results released today would give confidence to new-car buyers in the market for an “alternative-powered” SUV.

“All three models offer high levels of safety performance across the range of ANCAP assessment areas, demonstrating the clear ability for electric vehicle models to tick both the safe and green checkboxes,” she said.

“Today’s results demonstrate why ANCAP is encouraging all levels of government to ensure subsidies and incentives for alternative-powered vehicles are only provided to models offering the highest levels of safety.”