Kia Picanto scores four-star ANCAP rating

Three models new to Australia have been assessed for their crash safety by the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) – and two of the three have each achieved a five-star rating.

But the third car, Kia's tiny Picanto hatch, fell short. Scoring just four stars, the Picanto nonetheless earned plaudits from ANCAP for its standard Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).

"It is very encouraging to see an affordable, small car offering AEB City and AEB Interurban as standard, and Kia should be congratulated for taking this initiative," said ANCAP CEO, James Goodwin.

"The Picanto is however limited to four stars due to lower scores in the Pedestrian Protection and Child Occupant Protection areas of assessment," he added.

Mazda's CX-5 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet were both rated at five stars by ANCAP.

"The CX-5 performed well in physical tests and is fitted with a good list of safety features including all three levels of autonomous emergency braking – City, Interurban and Pedestrian," Goodwin said.

"As the highest selling unrated model in Australia and New Zealand so far this year, this provides yet another safe option for SUV buyers."

ANCAP's rating for the C-Class Cabriolet applies to the C 200 and C 300 models only.

"The C-Class convertible is a well-equipped model and offers AEB City and AEB Interurban as standard, however in the side impact test, the head of the 10-year old child dummy contacted the metal frame of the roof and points were deducted from its Child Occupant Protection score," Goodwin said.