Mazda MX-5 scores top safety mark
New Japanese roadster's crash safety rating rises from four to five stars following retest in AustraliaThe Australasian New Car Assessment Program, or ANCAP, has released the results of a local Mazda MX-5 crash test today, confirming a maximum possible five-star safety rating.
The new MX-5 was originally tested by Euro NCAP in October 2015, when it scored four stars.
Not happy with the result, Mazda Australia pushed ANCAP to crash the car here in Australia, which occurred in April this year, and the results will no doubt please Mazda.
However, the varying results may ultimately create confusion for customers.
Why is the Mazda MX-5 a four-star car in Europe and a five-car star in Australia? Chiefly because the Euro NCAP test methodology puts more weight on the fitment of crash avoidance technologies such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
ANCAP and Euro NCAP regularly share results -- in fact most of Australia's safety ratings come from the European crash tests. But in this instance there are certainly differences in the results.
"The ever-popular sports car impressed in local testing achieving a good result for this type of vehicle," said James Goodwin, CEO of ANCAP.
"This is a significant improvement on the model it replaces," he said, referring to the previous-generation MX-5, given there was no difference between the vehicle tested in Europe in 2015 and the vehicle tested in 2016.
Both safety authorities, Euro NCAP and ANCAP, have previously said a plan is in place to amalgamate results and provide uniform safety ratings by 2017.
The ANCAP boss praised the MX-5's pedestrian safety levels, saying the roadster offered "the highest pedestrian protection score we have seen for any vehicle to date," which is largely thanks to its pop-up bonnet.
However, Goodwin also highlighted the MX-5's lack of safety aids -- the very reason it scored four stars in Europe.
"Autonomous emergency braking, active lane support and speed assistance systems are lacking," he said.
"As a newly designed model – one that is likely to remain in the market for some time – it is concerning to see these important safety technologies have been overlooked."
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