Five-star safety for electrified newcomers

ANCAP has today issued five-star safety ratings for the newly-released Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicle, Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge plug-in hybrid SUV, Volvo XC40 T8 Recharge EV and combustion-engine powered Hyundai Tucson medium SUV range.

The high-scoring vehicles were assessed under ANCAP’s stringent new crash testing protocols introduced in June last year and saw each of the models tested rate highly in full-width frontal test, side-impact test, oblique-pole test, and ‘crash partner’ test scenarios.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5, which was officially released to market this month, is equipped with a full complement of active and passive safety features and technologies that ANCAP said enabled it to score full marks.

ANCAP said the results of the full-width frontal test were achieved using two smaller-stature female crash-test dummies, the vehicle showing exceptional ability for not only protecting its occupants in a crash, but also occupants of other vehicles the Ioniq 5 may encounter. 

ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said the Ioniq 5 scored the best ‘crash partner’ score since the assessment criteria 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,” Ms Hoorweg said.

“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 prioritises five-star safety in this new market offering.”

The latest plug-in hybrid and electric versions of Volvo’s XC40 SUV joined their conventionally-powered siblings in achieving a five-star safety rating, the rating extension following additional testing undertaken on the alternative T5 Recharge (PHEV) and T8 Recharge (EV) variants to ensure equivalent levels of safety performance.

“To ensure safety is not compromised for customers 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 occupants or first responders,” Ms Hoorweg said. 

Following its release into the Australian and New Zealand market earlier this year, the combustion-engine powered Hyundai Tucson midsize SUV also achieved a five-star ANCAP safety rating in the latest round of testing. 

ANCAP said the model offered similar levels of safety performance to that of the Ioniq 5 with high-grade variants including child presence detection (CPD) which audibly alerts the driver if movement is detected in the backseat once the ignition has been turned off and the vehicle locked.

The testing body said CPD systems will begin to be formally assessed – and will contribute to a vehicle’s overall safety rating – from 2023.