Mercedes-Benz CLA tops safety ratings

The new Mercedes-Benz CLA sedan has been declared the top performer in 2019 ANCAP safety testing, ahead of two Tesla electric vehicles.

The CLA achieved an overall weighted score of 90.2 per cent, narrowly outpointing the Model X SUV on 89.6 per cent and the new Model 3 medium sedan on 89.4 per cent.

While the CLA’s five-star result is based on testing by ANCAP’s sister-body Euro NCAP on a left-hand drive CLA 180 AMG Line, in Australia it applies to the CLA 200 and CLA 250 4MATIC but excludes the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35.

The CLA top-scored in the child occupant protection rating with 92 per cent and vulnerable road user protection with a 91 per cent score.

The Model X received a record-equalling high score of 98 per cent for adult occupant protection, with full points awarded for the protection of the driver in all four of the full-scale crash tests – frontal offset, full-width, side impact and oblique pole.

Both the Model 3 and Model X achieved the highest safety assist scores recorded to date at 94 per cent – well ahead of all others rated this year.

Both Teslas were also left-hand drive examples tested by Euro NCAP. All versions of both models sold in Australia are covered by the results.

Of the 40 ANCAP safety ratings issued throughout 2019, 33 (83 per cent) achieved the maximum five-star result.

Meanwhile, ANCAP closed out 2019 announcing the new Kia Seltos SUV was a five-star safety performer.

However, that came with a caveat because of the way the safety equipment is packaged across the Seltos range.

While the Seltos is deemed to be a five-star performer across the line-up, the safety of the entry-level S and mid-range Sport are boosted if a $1000 safety pack option is included.

This includes a ‘radar fusion’ autonomous emergency braking system that is capable of detecting and either avoiding or mitigating collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists and allows for crash avoidance up to 80km/h.

Without the safety pack, the S and Sport get a camera-based AEB system that works up to 55km/h rather than 80km/h and does not detect cyclists.

Interestingly, the same AEB system is fitted to all versions of the smaller Hyundai Venue, which was recently awarded a four-star ANCAP rating.

“The Seltos has performed well, but it is important consumers are aware that there are some differences in safety performance for the entry-level Seltos variants,” said ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin.

“Base models of the Seltos miss out on some of the more advanced features available with the radar-fusion AEB system, and we would encourage consumers to purchase a variant which offers the enhanced collision avoidance capability as this can translate to real differences on the road.”