Top safety marks for new Hyundai Tucson and IONIQ 5

Independent local automotive safety body ANCAP has awarded a maximum five-star safety rating to the new Hyundai Tucson, the all-new Hyundai IONIQ 5 and both versions of the electrified Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Both the Volvo XC40 Recharge plug-in hybrid released in mid-2020 and the XC40 Recharge pure electric, which became Volvo’s first EV this month, carry over the same five-star rating awarded by Euro NCAP to a left-hand drive diesel version of the then-new small SUV in 2018, when NCAP’s scoring regime was less vigorous.

However, ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said both electrified XC40 models were subject to “additional checks”.

“To ensure safety is not compromised for consumers wanting to buy an alternative-powered vehicle, for battery and hybrid electric vehicles we conduct additional checks to make sure they don’t pose unique risks such as battery rupture or electrical hazards to the occupants or first responders,” said Hoorweg.

Hyundai IONIQ 5

“This gives consumers peace-of-mind and assists fleet buyers in meeting their safety and environmental targets.”

For the record, like all Volvo XC40 variants, both the T5 and T8 Recharge models come with a full suite of safety technologies and now carry the same high scores for all four areas of ANCAP assessment – 97% for adult occupant protection, 84% for child occupant protection, 71% for vulnerable road user (pedestrians and cyclists) protection and 78% for safety assist.

The new Hyundai Tucson, meantime, adopts the same five-star rating awarded by ANCAP’s European affiliate to a left-hand drive 1.6-litre T-GDI hybrid variant earlier this year.

That powertrain is not yet available in Australia, but once again all local versions of the new Tucson – released just months ago – receive the same high assessment scores under ANCAP’s latest scoring protocols.

These include 86% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 66% for vulnerable road user protection and 70% for safety assist.

ANCAP noted that premium variants of the Tucson offer a child presence detection (CPD) system that produces an audible alert if movement is detected in the second-row seats after the ignition has been turned off and the car locked. It says CPD systems will be formally assessed as part of a vehicle’s overall safety rating from 2023.

Finally, all versions of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 released just this month also receive a five-star ANCAP rating, based on overseas crash testing of a left-hand drive example of the all-new crossover EV.

Hyundai Tucson

Broken down, the IONIQ 5’s safety scores were 88% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 63% for vulnerable road user protection and 89% for safety assist.

ANCAP said high scores were achieved in the full width frontal test, which involves two smaller-statured female crash test dummies, as well as the side impact or ‘T-bone’ test and the oblique pole test, which evaluates the risk of head injury to the driver in a collision with a tree or pole.

It said the IONIQ 5 presented an “impressively low risk” to the ‘crash partner’ vehicle with a minimal 0.22-point penalty applied – the best score ANCAP has observed in this assessment area since vehicle compatibility scoring was introduced in 2020.

“The IONIQ 5’s good measure of safety performance coupled with its green drivetrain provides families and fleet buyers with a good all-round choice,” said Hoorweg.

“We know safety and environmental performance are top-of-mind considerations for the majority of new car buyers today, and it’s pleasing to see Hyundai prioritise five-star safety in this new market offering.”