GWM Ute gets top safety rating – with a catch

The GWM Ute has today been awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP rating, making it only the third model in its segment to achieve the top score under the independent safety body’s latest 2021 protocols.

However, the top ANCAP rating won’t apply to every version of the Chinese brand’s dual-cab 4x4 ute, which arrived in Australia in January 2021 and was then upgraded in the second half of this year.

ANCAP says the five-star rating only applies to GWM Utes built from August 2021 – and covers all variants – and excludes vehicles produced before that.

In another twist, however, owners of those vehicles will be able to have their utes upgraded to five-star safety specs free of charge.

The safety performance of the new GWM Ute is a marked improvement on its predecessor, the GWM Steed, which received a two-star ANCAP rating in 2016.

Matching the current five-star ANCAP ratings of the new Isuzu D-MAX and its twin under the skin, the Mazda BT-50, the GWM Ute’s safety rating eclipses the five-star results achieved by all other utes prior to the implementation of ANCAP’s more stringent new testing criteria in 2020.

These include the top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, which is about to be renewed, as well as the recently upgraded LDV T60 also made in China (it achieved five stars in 2017).

Meantime, while most utes from mainstream brands are produced in Thailand, the Indian-made Mahindra Pick-Up has a three-star ANCAP rating from 2012 and the recently updated SsangYong Musso remains unrated by ANCAP – like all Toyota 70 Series models except the single-cab, which scored five stars in 2016.

After physical crash tests conducted in Australia in late October, ANCAP said GWM Ute models built from August 2021 performed well, achieving full points in side impact and far-side impact tests for both adult and child occupants.

It said the dual-cab ute also scored full points in testing of active lane support system functionality, strong scores for driver protection in frontal impact crashes, and a high level of protection in rear impact whiplash crashes.

An adult occupant protection rating of 86 per cent was achieved, while the Ute scored 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 73 per cent for its safety assist systems and 67 per cent for vulnerable road users. 

However, while the dual-cab ute also achieved “a high level of protection in rear impact whiplash crashes”, ANCAP noted several safety-related ‘deficiencies’ were found during full-width frontal and whiplash tests.

ANCAP said that to achieve higher scores the performance of front head restraint and steering column components in models built between September 2020 and July 2021 needed rectification, which GMW implemented in production from August 1.

That means early adopters don’t get an ANCAP safety rating for their vehicles, however, owners of these older utes will be able to have the upgraded safety gear installed as part of a service campaign being rolled out by GWM, which would give their vehicles the same five-star rating.

“These deficiencies have now been addressed with GWM implementing design changes to all newly-built models to improve safety performance in these crash conditions. Additional ANCAP tests have verified improved performance,” said ANCAP.

“GWM has committed to improve the performance of earlier-built vehicles through a targeted service campaign as required under ANCAP protocols.

“Owners of vehicles built between September 2020 and 31 July 2021 are strongly advised to have the rectification action completed as soon as possible so that their vehicle can also meet five-star ANCAP safety requirements.”

ANCAP pointed out that vehicle manufacturers are permitted to review the results obtained through ANCAP testing and, where specific criteria are met, can apply for an improved vehicle to be retested.

“The ability to re-test a vehicle is an option available to all manufacturers in a very narrow range of circumstances and exists to encourage manufacturers to strive for the highest level of safety,” said the safety body.

“Retesting protocols require manufacturers to be able to demonstrate that the production changes will significantly improve safety performance, and must implement the changes for vehicles in production as well as all vehicles already in-market.

“It is not common for manufacturers to be able to satisfy these requirements – they are onerous, and are designed to provide an incentive for manufacturers to improve vehicles that have already been sold to consumers in the Australasian market.”

ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said the result was a good outcome for consumers after COVID-related state lockdowns impacted the safety body’s 2021 test program and delayed the publication of results for several models.

“GWM has shown its willingness and strong commitment to providing its customers with the highest levels of safety by swiftly incorporating improvements to address deficiencies in existing vehicles and as a result, Australian and New Zealand consumers are being supplied with a safer vehicle,” she said.

“This rectification action for all vehicles already in the market would not have come without the pressure applied through ANCAP protocols.

“Those who have already purchased a vehicle built prior to August 2021 should return their vehicle to their local dealership and have the no-cost rectification action completed in order for that individual vehicle to meet the five-star standards and ensure they have the safest vehicle available.”

In its press release today, GWM Australia did not comment on the fact ANCAP’s top safety rating does not apply to Utes delivered in the first six month of this year, but said the news would allow it to attract more fleet buyers.

“With confirmation of the five-star ANCAP result, GWM will now commence the next steps of enhancing its business across Australia and New Zealand through a number of initiatives to help expand the GWM Ute’s presence across corporate and fleet categories,” said GWM Australia.

“Prior to the five-star ANCAP announcement, GWM Ute was unable to be considered by many corporates and fleets. But now that the rating is secured, GWM will strengthen its focus across these areas to add corporate and fleet buyers to the many thousands of satisfied private buyers that have taken home a GWM Ute since it was launched in late 2020.”

While it is still considering the local release of a single-cab derivative of the GWM Ute, GWM Australia today confirmed it will release a cab/chassis version of its four-door ute early in 2022.

“Supplied with factory-fit aluminium tray, this new model will provide additional appeal for Australia’s huge army of tradespersons and primary producers,” it said.

“In addition to this, GWM is also exploring local options for vehicle enhancement, engineering and tuning to further strengthen its appeal to Australian buyers.

“With nearly 6000 sold in its first 12 months on sale, the GWM Ute has hit the ground running and is now poised to further establish itself as a vehicle that should be on every ute intenders list, whether you’re a private or fleet buyer.”