Honda withdraws five-star safety claim for Jazz

Honda Australia has reissued claims about the safety rating for its Jazz hatchback following pressure from the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

The latest model Jazz scored an impressive 32.49 out of 35 points which would have earned it five-star status in the ANCAP ratings last year. But the rules changed at the beginning of this year and only vehicles with stability control can be awarded five stars.

Stability control is available on Honda Jazz models built and sold in Japan (where it's known as Fit), but has not yet been developed for the Australia-bound vehicles which are made at a Honda factory in Thailand.

In early June Honda Australia issued a press release which ANCAP said could give the ordinary person the impression that the new Jazz had been awarded five stars following recent tests. At the request of ANCAP, Honda has since withdrawn the original press release and issued another which clarifies the vehicle as achieving four stars.

But questions have been raised about whether or not Honda Australia knew the Jazz sold here was not eligible for a five-star rating in the first place, regardless of how it performed in the local crash tests. Honda Australia executives were told by a number of journalists at the launch of the Jazz last year that the car would not be eligible for a five-star rating unless it was equipped with stability control.

The Carsales Network stated in its local launch review of the new car published in September 2008 (more here): "It should be noted Honda's "five-star levels" safety claim relates to Honda's own testing -- not any crash testing by ANCAP or EuroNCAP. As the Jazz does not offer stability control -- even as an option -- the car is ineligible to score the crash labs' top rating Down Under."

The chairman for ANCAP, Lauchlan McIntosh, told the Carsales Network: "We feel the original press release was misleading and we brought that to the attention of Honda. It was a clear misrepresentation in our view and it's disappointing that we had to raise it with them."

The correction issued by Honda Australia to the media said in part: "Honda Australia recently published a press release in relation to the ANCAP test results for the Honda Jazz GLi ("Honda Jazz ANCAP result", issued June 11, 2009). 

"Honda Australia recognises that that press release contained incorrect statements in relation to the ANCAP test results for the Honda Jazz. 

"Accordingly, Honda Australia wishes to correct those statements. Specifically, Honda Australia confirms that the current Honda Jazz GLi, VTi and VTi-S models have not received, and are not eligible to receive, a 5 star rating from ANCAP and would not be eligible for a 5 star rating from EuroNCAP, as those models are not fitted with Vehicle Stability Assist [Honda Australia's terminology for stability control]. 

"Therefore, the Honda Jazz GLi would not have received a 5 star ANCAP rating had ANCAP tested the model with the "Safety Pack" option."

To see the score and what the fuss is all about, go to ANCAP's website ancap.com.au

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