Top safety rating for Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Yaris Cross

Independent vehicle safety authority ANCAP has today awarded both the Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Yaris Cross a maximum five-star safety rating.

ANCAP said it awarded Isuzu’s second-generation MU-X with the same maximum safety rating – including its 2020 date stamp – as the latest D-MAX ute on which it’s based after the seven-seat large SUV scored well across all four key areas of assessment. 

“Due to the similarities between the two models, many of the test results obtained through testing of the D-MAX last year were able to be carried across to the MU-X, with supplementary testing conducted where the MU-X’s design and safety performance was likely to differ,” said ANCAP.

The MU-X was subjected to a fresh frontal offset (MPDB) test, in which it achieved a slightly better score of 87 per cent for adult occupant protection (the D-MAX scored 83%) because of the improved protection it offered to the chest and upper legs of the driver and chest and lower legs of the front passenger. 

However, ANCAP said the protection offered by the MU-X to occupants in the second row was poorer than the D-MAX’s perfect score in this test, but “remained well within the five-star threshold”.  

The MU-X recorded an 85 per cent score for child occupant protection, 65 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 84 per cent for Safety Assist, thanks to a full complement of active and passive safety systems comprising eight airbags including front centre (far-side), driver’s knee and full-length curtain bags.

The MU-X scored particularly well for adult occupant protection with 33.25 out of 38 points – among one of the highest scores awarded by ANCAP – thanks to its far-side impact performance. This equates to 10.5 per cent of the adult protection component of the ANCAP score, achieving a solid 3.5 out of four points in this area.

“The MU-X takes advantage of the safety features already demonstrated in the D-MAX, and it’s pleasing to see this strong performance carried over into the large SUV segment,” said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg.

“Safety is a must for those in the market for a seven-seat family vehicle, and the MU-X provides a safe choice for active families.”

Also unsurprisingly, the Toyota Yaris Cross attracted the same five-star ANCAP rating as the latest Yaris hatch on which it’s based, thanks to a similarly extensive standard safety entourage also including a centre front airbag to avoid head clash in the event of a side impact.

The compact SUV scored 86 per cent for both adult and child occupant protection, 78 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 82 per cent for Safety Assist.

“The Yaris Cross achieved maximum points for its protection of adult occupants in the side impact, oblique pole and whiplash tests,” said Hoorweg.

“Occupant-to-occupant protection was also good, with the Yaris Cross fitted as standard with dual centre airbags between the front seats to minimise potential head injury in side impact crashes.”

ANCAP said the protection provided by the Yaris Cross to pedestrians in the event of a collision was good and that its ability to actively avoid collisions with pedestrians through its autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system also scored well in forward-travel test scenarios.

However, the safety body noted that the standard AEB systems in both the MU-X and Yaris do not react to vulnerable road users in reverse and therefore both models achieved a nil score for AEB Backover.

“Both the Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Yaris Cross are very well equipped in the areas of physical crash protection and active collision avoidance, making them safe choices within their respective segments,” said Hoorweg.