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NEWS
Picanto proves safe but Wrangler crashes out
Another four-star ANCAP ranking for Jeep as Wrangler scores four safety stars while Kia Picanto gains fiveThe Wrangler has joined Jeep’s Compass crossover and Grand Cherokee luxury SUV in being awarded a less than perfect four-star crash safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
Australia’s independent vehicle safety body said the lack of head-protecting side airbags as standard prevented the iconic Jeep off-roader from scoring a maximum five-star safety ranking, while the level of protection provided to pedestrians by the Wrangler was rated as 'poor'.
ANCAP tested a two-door 3.6-litre V6-powered version of the popular US-built off-roader, the latest generation of which was launched here in 2007 before receiving a substantial upgrade earlier this year. However, the Wrangler continues to come standard with only two front airbags.
ANCAP Chairman Lauchlan McIntosh encouraged buyers of new SUVs, many of which now achieve the top five-star safety rating, to purchase only the safest models.
“There are now many SUVs which have been awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating,” he said. “Consumers should make sure they make a five-star choice when buying their next car and they can do that by checking the ANCAP website or on their smartphone.”
Although star ratings cannot be compared across different vehicle segments, Kia’s pint-size Picanto city-car fared much better in the latest round of ANCAP testing, scoring the maximum five-star result.
The Picanto is now available in New Zealand, where it’s a direct rival for entry-level models like the Volkswagen up! and Nissan Micra, but remains under consideration for release in Australia.
Officially, Kia Motors Australia says it has established a business case for the Picanto, which would need to be priced below its current range-opener, the Rio (priced from $15,290), but the car’s local introduction is now unlikely to occur until a midlife facelift appears.
However, Nissan’s compact Juke crossover was also sold only in New Zealand when it was awarded a five-star ANCAP crash rating in August, before being confirmed for Australian release just two months later.
New Zealand’s Picanto comes standard with twin front, front-side and head-protecting side curtain airbags – as well as electronic stability control (ESC), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and anti-lock brakes (ABS).
However, the Picanto’s pedestrian protection was deemed to be only ‘marginal’ by ANCAP, which is backed by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian and New Zealand governments, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.
“The five-star ANCAP safety rating achieved by the Kia Picanto provides New Zealand motorists with yet another safe model to choose from,” said Mr McIntosh.
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Written byMarton Pettendy
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