Five-star safety for five new models

THE latest Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash safety ratings have been handed down, with five cars achieving top marks, including a boost to five stars for the Honda Accord.

As well as the Accord, Honda's City light sedan, the Nissan X-Trail SUV, Peugoet 308 small car and hybrid-powered Toyota Prius C city car all scored a maximum five-star safety rating.

The Japanese car-maker's current-generation Accord, released in mid-2013, was resubmitted for testing after only managing a four-star rating due to marginal leg protection in the frontal offset crash test at launch.

Honda has since revised the Thai-built Accord, managing to lower the risk of sustaining a lower leg injury in the event of a crash.

As a result, the Accord's frontal offset test score raises from 11.21 to 14.79 out of 16, pushing the post-July 2014 built mid-size sedan into the five-star safety bracket.

Honda also equips its Accord range with front driver and passenger airbags, side airbags, antilock brakes (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC) and ISOFIX enabled seats as standard.

ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh has praised Honda for improving the safety of the Accord mid-sizer.

“This is a great example of non-regulatory program at work,” he said.

“While not required to improve its performance, Honda has reviewed the ANCAP test results and actively implemented changes to offer consumers a safer car.”

Nissan's current-generation X-Trail also managed a five-star rating after the previous generation scored four stars due to poor driver and passenger leg and neck protection.

Australian-spec X-Trails are not offered with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and third-row seats lack seatbelt reminders and side curtain airbags.

Toyota's petrol-electric hybrid Prius C hatch and the new-generation Honda City sedan both scored top marks, with the Toyota losing points in both the frontal offset and side impact crash tests for a total score of 34.88 out of 37, while the City only lost points in the frontal offset crash test for an overall score of 35.62 out of 37.

However, the five-star safety rating for the Peugeot 308 only applies to diesel variants, as the petrol models are yet to be tested.

The French small car lost points in the frontal offset crash test for acceptable driver and passenger chest and leg protection, but otherwise scored full marks for all other areas.