ANCAP: Holden Acadia, BMW X5 receive five stars

THE Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has given the Holden Acadia and BMW X5 large SUVs its highly desired five-star safety rating, with both critical new models putting in strong overall performances during testing.

 

The Acadia excelled in the adult occupant category, scoring 94 per cent to the X5’s also-impressive 89 per cent, with the former providing ‘adequate’ driver’s chest and lower left-leg protection in the frontal offset crash test.

 

‘Adequate’ neck and ‘weak’ chest protection were offered to the rear passenger in the full-width frontal crash test, while ‘adequate’ chest protection was provided to the driver in the oblique pole crash test. Protection for other occupant limbs in all tests was rated as ‘good’.

 

“These are impressive results, and it is encouraging to see Holden offer such a strong safety performer in this competitive family SUV segment,” ANCAP chief executive officer James Goodwin said.

 

Comparatively, the X5 offered the driver ‘adequate’ chest and lower right-leg, and ‘weak’ upper-leg protection in the frontal offset crash test, while ‘adequate’ protection was provided for the driver’s chest and upper legs, and rear passenger’s chest in the full-width frontal crash test.

 

“Engineers noted concerns with the deployment of the knee airbag, and a penalty was applied against the test results of both the frontal offset and full-width frontal tests,” Mr Goodwin said.

 

“Areas of the dash were also identified as a potential source of injury for the driver’s knees, and penalties were applied.”

 

‘Marginal’ chest protection was offered to the driver in the oblique pole crash test, while other occupant limbs were provided with ‘good’ protection in all the tests.

 

The Acadia and X5 were inseparable in the child occupant category, scoring 87 per cent and offering ‘adequate’ neck protection for the 10-year-old dummy in the frontal offset crash test.

 

Both models are fitted with lower ISOFIX anchorages on their outboard rear seats alongside top tether anchorages for their second rows, but the X5 misses out on the latter for its third row while the Acadia does not.

 

The X5 edged the Acadia by one per cent in the vulnerable road-user category, scoring 75 per cent. The pair mostly provided ‘good’ and ‘adequate’ head protection in the pedestrian impact test.

 

‘Weak’ and ‘poor’ results were recorded along the front of the X5’s bonnet, while the Acadia had the same return at the base of its windshield and along its A-pillars.

 

‘Poor’ pelvis protection was offered by the X5, while a mixed bag of ‘marginal’ and ‘good’ lower-leg protection was provided by the Acadia.

 

The Acadia returned fire in the safety assist category, scoring 86 per cent to the X5’s 71 per cent. This result came despite its autonomous emergency braking system being rated as ‘adequate’ in six tests and ‘marginal’ in one.

 

“The collision-avoidance technologies fitted to the Acadia performed very well,” Mr Goodwin said.

 

“Full points were scored in testing of its lane support systems, autonomously maintaining lane position within line markings, as well as the unmarked road edge.

 

“The Acadia also intervened in overtaking scenarios, passing the more critical emergency lane keeping tests.” 

 

Conversely, the X5’s lane-keep assist system was rated as ‘adequate’ overall due to its inability to intervene in emergency situations, such as when drifting into the lane of an oncoming vehicle.

 

“The X5’s autonomous emergency braking system scored close to full points across all test scenarios for the avoidance of pedestrians and cyclists in both daylight and night-time conditions,” Mr Goodwin said.

 

Both models have seatbelt reminders for all seating positions, but occupant detection is not available in their second and third rows.

 

The five-star rating applies to all six of the Acadia’s variants but only two of the X5’s grades (xDrive30d and M50d), with ANCAP awaiting further information from BMW that will determine if its stamp of approval is extended to the xDrive40i due in the first quarter of next year.

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