Jeep Compass gets five ANCAP stars

Just days after entry-level models of the Kia Stinger were demoted to three stars by ANCAP for not offering Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), the entire Jeep Compass range has been awarded five stars.

However, this is despite two models in the range missing out on AEB altogether and the other two only offering it as an option.

The apparent contradiction highlights the issues with the hybrid testing system ANCAP has employed since 2015 as it moves towards alignment with Euro NCAP.

But it will also be the last time this issue occurs because ANCAP and Euro NCAP testing will be identical from 2018.

To coincide with the testing result Jeep Australia has announced AEB and Lane Departure Warning will now become optionally available on the entry-level Sport and Longitude models. This is an almost immediate rethink from the launch price and equipment line-up announced last week.

While crash-preventing AEB is already part of a $2450 pack for the higher Limited and Trailhawk models, it is expected to cost less than $1000 on Sport and Longitude variants.

But Sport and Longitude models with the AEB option fitted are unlikely to arrive in Australia from the Indian factory until well into the second quarter of 2018.

Even with this update, it’s important to note the new Jeep compact SUV would not get five stars under the much tougher new ANCAP testing regime because the driver assist systems are not standard.

While the Compass has avoided this issue by being tested under the old ANCAP testing protocols, Jeep’s all-new JL Wrangler is in trouble because it does not come with AEB.

"From 1 January 2018, all vehicles rated by ANCAP will be assessed to a broadened test regime," an ANCAP spokesperson confirmed.

"Under this more stringent criteria, a well-performing autonomous emergency braking, lane support or speed assistance system will be required to achieve a five-star ANCAP safety rating."

"Responsible vehicle brands are keeping pace with increasing standards and we'll continue to encourage improvements across all brands and all variants as we raise the bar on safety from next year."

The Jeep’s result was announced this morning along with a five-star result for the Chinese-built LDV D90 SUV, which comes standard with the full suite of low- and high-speed AEB and pedestrian protection.

So why do entry-level Stingers get three stars and entry-level Compass models get five stars? According to ANCAP it boils down to the origin of the tests.

Kia chose to save money and not to have the Stinger crash-tested locally by ANCAP, instead relying on Euro NCAP results, which are based on tougher tests and wider parameters than ANCAP currently employs.

Other vehicles have gone down the same route in the past. But this time ANCAP chose to publish the scores for the 200S and 330S Stingers, rather than simply omit the models in the range that do not have five stars.

This has notably applied to the Holden Astra R hatchback, which doesn’t have AEB, and the Ford Focus RS, which does not have side airbags.

It is understood that ANCAP felt confident to rate the entry-level Stingers because it had more technical information than for the Astra and Focus.

If tested in 2018 under the tougher new system, all Stingers would get three stars because of the omission of AEB from the entry-level models.

If, however, Kia chose to make AEB standard across the range, the ANCAP score would be date stamped and upgraded to five stars to reflect that.

Making AEB optional would not trigger an upgrade.

According to the technical data sheet issued by ANCAP, the Compass tested was a Longitude front-wheel drive powered by a 2.4-litre petrol engine.

It scored 14.93 out of 16 in the frontal offset test, 16 out of 16 in the side impact test, two out of two in the pole test, three out of three for seatbelt reminders and was rated ‘good’ for whiplash protection and pedestrian protection. Its overall score was 35.93 out of 37.

The Compass lost points for chest and leg protection in the offset test, in which it was rated acceptable rather than good.  It also lost points in the pedestrian test, where it provided poor protection at the base of the windscreen and on the windscreen pillars.

The D90 tested was the most expensive Luxe grade. It rated 14.05 out of 16 in the frontal offset test, 16 out of 16 in the side impact test, two out of two in the pole test and three out of three for seatbelt reminders.

It was rated good for whiplash protection, acceptable for pedestrian protection and had an overall score of 35.05 out of 37.

The driver’s chest and leg protection were rated acceptable in the offset test, while the passenger leg protection was also downgraded to acceptable. Pedestrian protection was downgraded to poor in areas of the bonnet where a child’s head might strike.

From 2018 ANCAP will no longer present an overall scoring result. Instead each vehicle will be rated against four key scoring areas; Adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist.

The testing will include physical crashes, equipment audits and testing of driver assist systems such as AEB.

The final star rating will be determined by the lowest performing area of assessment. More dual ratings, like the Stinger’s three and five-star results, are likely to be seen under the new testing regime.