Kia Sorento rated five-star safe

Kia's latest-generation Sorento, just days away from its Australian media launch, has been awarded a five-star safety rating by local testing authority ANCAP.

All variants in the new range have achieved the required standard to be considered five-star safe – the maximum possible rating – by ANCAP, the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme. The assessment was based on data supplied by Euro NCAP, the European counterpart to ANCAP responsible for conducting the crash testing of the Sorento.

According to ANCAP, the Australian-spec Sorento comes equipped as standard with important safety items such as stability control, emergency brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, three-point seat belts for all forward-facing seats, emergency stop signal, seat belt reminders for first and second-row seats, reversing collision avoidance and a roll stability system.

It's good news for Kia, which was "extremely surprised" by ANCAP rating the important new Carnival people mover a four-star contender only.

And also on the back foot, ANCAP has stressed in its press release its importance as a consumer guide to vehicle safety. The crash safety testing body has been criticised recently for changes to its testing parameters.

"ANCAP requirements continually increase, encouraging manufacturers to provide consumers with safer cars. ANCAP has been raising this bar annually since 2011," said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Clarke, as quoted in a press release.

"Consumers should continue to look for cars which have been awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating. In addition, ANCAP also publishes the Rating Year for each car it rates. This important reference indicates the standards against which a vehicle has been assessed."