New Ford Fiesta rates 5-stars for safety
02 January 2009
The RAC, Western Australia’s peak motoring body, today announced that Ford’s 5-star safety rated stable continues to grow, with some of the new Ford Fiesta variants receiving a 5-star safety rating.
RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown said that the new 5 door Fiesta models* – which received the 5-star rating under complementary EuroNCAP crash tests – have joined the Mazda2 as an ANCAP 5-star vehicle available for less than $20,000.
The 5 door version of the Fiesta received an ANCAP 5-star rating for those vehicles fitted with the optional safety pack (this is standard on the Fiesta Zetec) and 4 stars without the safety pack. The Honda Accord Euro also received a 5-star rating.
“It is great to see an ANCAP 5-star safety rating for the Fiesta and we look forward to seeing other small vehicles achieving the same safety rating soon,” Mr Brown said.
The RAC announced 4-star ratings for the Mercedes Viano people mover and Mercedes Vito van under the EuroNCAP regime, which uses the same crash testing protocols as ANCAP.
Mr Brown noted that the Mercedes Vito van added to a growing list of 4 star commercial vehicles.
"There is no longer any excuse for trades people or business employees to be driving around in 3 star vehicles, or worse. The RAC hopes to see the first 5-star commercial vehicle in 2009."
The new Fiesta will be available on the Australian market from January 1 and scored well in the frontal offset and side impact crash tests, with the passenger compartment and structure holding its shape well.
The safety pack includes Electronic Stability Control, which is a prerequisite for a 5-star rating under ANCAP’s protocols. These ANCAP five star Fiesta models join other ANCAP five star cars in the Ford fleet – the FG Falcon, the Ford Mondeo and the Ford Focus.
The Honda Accord Euro, which also received a 5-star rating, is currently available on the Australian market and performed well with passengers protected and the compartment stable under the crash tests.
ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, all Australian state governments, the New Zealand government, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation. For a full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings, go to www.ancap.com.au
* Note – none of the Fiesta three door variants have been tested by ANCAP or EURONCAP.
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