Your questions answered: How important is an ANCAP safety score?

Five stars is as good as it gets when it comes to assessing the safety of vehicles in Australia, and it’s the target for every new arrival, most recently including the 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) does some of its own crash testing but, following the end of local car-making, it largely relies on the data supplied by its overseas affiliates, led by NCAP in Europe.

The five-star bar is being continually raised, now focusing as much on ‘active’ safety systems to prevent a crash – including the latest driver assist technology.

But it’s important to remember that a five-star car from five years ago will not be the same on safety as a five-star car for 2022.

Question:

Answer: The Hyundai Venue is an excellent small SUV and its four-star ANCAP safety rating is mostly down to a lack of some driver assist technologies, not its ability to protect the occupants in a crash. If you want a similar model to compare, look at the Kia Stonic. But it’s important to know that its five-star ANCAP score is not a like-for-like comparison as it’s based on an earlier set of test requirements .

Question:

Answer: The Ford Escape is good but not as new or sharp as the latest mid-sizers from Kia and Hyundai, so best to do a back-to-back test drive to pick your favourite. If you’re keen on Ford, and don’t need the extra space, the baby Ford Puma could be best for you as it combines SUV practicality with the size, value and economy of a stylish small hatchback.

Question:

Answer: The Hyundai Kona and Tucson are both good choices, the Tucson now right at the top of its class in medium SUVs. No-one can predict exact delivery times, but five months seems a solid estimate, and their age will be based on the date they come through the factory in South Korea – so most likely 2022. Capped-price servicing is not a promotional deal, it’s the standard warranty, and although a non-factory mechanic will be capable of doing the job it’s better to stay with the official Hyundai outlet through the warranty period in case of any problems with the vehicle.

Question: My girlfriend is in the market for a new car and, based on her budget, she likes the look of two cars, but can’t decide between them. They are a used 2018 Mazda CX-3 Maxx with 50,000km on the clock or a brand-new 2021 Kia Stonic S. Both are priced at $24,000-$25,000 drive-away but she's struggling as Mazda seems to have the stronger brand and has a more refined interior and exterior, however the Kia is brand-new and has a seven-year warranty. The cars have trade-offs in terms of boot size, power and tech, and seem to be about on-par with each other. – Peter D

Answer: This one is a no-brainer, as the Kia Stonic is one of the very best baby SUVs and the Mazda CX-3 is getting outdated, without worrying about new against second-hand. No need to worry about the brand, as Kia has an excellent reputation for the quality of its vehicles as well as value including the long warranty.

Question:

Answer: The no-charge result tells you everything. Sounds like they were just trying it on, although uneven tyre wear can be caused by faulty alignment and a car like a BMW does need proper setting.

Question:

Answer: Your Benz is getting into the danger zone on age and if something big goes wrong it will be costly. Also remember that it’s important to have maximum safety for your twilight years of driving. So look to update, perhaps not brand-new but something newer to get maximum value and car that will be a reward for your retirement.

Question:

Answer: Wanton disregard for servicing might be grounds to dispute warranty items but the occasionally late service does not fall into this category. It’s the dealer being alarmist. You should, however, make sure your vehicle is regularly serviced by a qualified mechanic. You may choose the selling Ford dealer but ultimately the choice is yours.

Question: I love my 2007 Mercedes-Benz C 200 Kompressor but have been told not to use degreaser to clean the wheels. I’m told it might corrode the surface of the alloy wheels. Do you agree? – Bill G

Answer: Degreaser is definitely not recommended. Usually just soapy water and a soft sponge is best. There is a product from Armor All that you can spray onto clean alloys to help cut the build-up of brake dust.

Question:

Answer: All auto safety braking systems assume the driver is not doing their job. So the rear cross traffic alert is warning you, and some brake the vehicle, in case there is still a hazard. There are a variety of systems and thresholds, but generally they operate at all speeds and the better ones react to pedestrians and bicycles in the danger zone. If you encounter a hazard on the highway it’s still easy to steer around it and avoid triggering the AEB.

Question:

Answer: Subaru Forester. It’s better than the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Koleos is from a brand which is not doing much in Australia, and it’s more affordable than the Outback unless you need the extra space in the bigger Subaru.

Got a question but don’t know where to find the information you need? Email us at editor@carsales.com.au

Find more of Your Questions Answered by carsales here