Toyota HiLux gets fresh five-star safety rating

Australia’s best-selling new vehicle, the Toyota HiLux, has become the first ute to receive a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2019.

The upgraded safety score, achieved under the more stringent ANCAP scoring regime in place since 2018, replaces the model’s previous five-star rating from 2015, when the eighth-generation HiLux was released.

It was awarded following a fresh battery of crash tests by ANCAP and the fitment of collision avoidance technologies as standard across the range, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus active lane keep assist (LKA) and speed assistance system (SAS).

The important safety upgrades for the HiLux were announced last month <<<< /toyota-hilux-safety-upgraded-119164 >>>>>, matching its closest rival in the Ford Ranger.

Apart from the popular HiLux and Ranger, the only other utes now fitted as standard with AEB are the Mitsubishi Triton, Mercedes-Benz X-Class and SsangYong Musso.

While all of these models may also score a maximum safety rating if tested under the current ANCAP regime, the Musso remains unrated and the five-star crash rating of the Ranger, Triton (both 2015) and X-Class (2017) was awarded under a less strict scoring protocol.

Highlighting the inconsistency of ANCAP’s star rating system, many other utes also come with a five-star rating but aren’t available with AEB, which is now a prerequisite for five stars.

These include the Holden Colorado (tested in 2016), Isuzu D-MAX (2013), Nissan Navara (2015), Mazda BT-50 (2011), Volkswagen Amarok (2011) and LDV T60 (2017).

“This is certainly an important move for Toyota customers, the segment, and more broadly, the market,” said ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin.

“Significant upgrades have been introduced to the updated HiLux to enhance occupant protection and prevent collisions with other road users.”

“While already a five-star vehicle, it is encouraging Toyota Motor Corporation Australia is the first to put forward a vehicle with improved safety specification to undergo re-testing against current, more stringent ANCAP criteria in order to update its rating datestamp,” he said.