RAC warns against unsafe imported utes
29 September 2009
The RAC has warned new vehicle buyers against purchasing two brands of imported utes after both returned very poor crash testing results.
The Chinese-made Great Wall ute tested received just two stars out of a possible five from the crash testing organisation ANCAP, while the Malaysian-built Proton Jumbuck ute only rated a single star.
The RAC’s Head of Member Advocacy, Matt Brown, said the results were very concerning, and that new car buyers should consider other, safer new car options rather than these vehicles.
He said that while commercial vehicles such as these have lagged behind passenger cars in the past, this is no longer the case.
“Most commercial vehicles now have a minimum three or four star safety rating, and earlier this year we saw Australia’s first five-star commercial vehicle, the Mercedes Vito,” Mr Brown said.
“It is no longer acceptable for a vehicle on sale in Australia to have two stars, let alone one star.”
Great Wall vehicles are currently on sale through five dealers in Western Australia and more than 50 of the utes have been sold since June.
The two models in the Great Wall range consist of the entry level SA220 ($19,990 before on road costs), and the more luxurious V240 (from $23,990).
The SA220 has no airbags, no anti-lock braking system and no electronic stability control. The V240 has dual airbags but these failed to protect the driver and passenger from injury in the crash tests.
Mr Brown said he was also concerned that the Great Wall was a dual cab that could appeal to tradesmen as a family vehicle.
The Proton Jumbuck has been on sale in Australia since early 2003.
It also comes with no airbags, ABS or electronic stability control. Pricing for the Jumbuck starts at $14,990 for the base model GLS, with the GLSi at $16,990.
ANCAP said the Jumbuck scored one star for several reasons.
According to ANCAP, the Jumbuck’s passenger compartment was “severely deformed” in the offset crash test, and “there was a high risk of life-threatening chest injury.”
Proton announced in August that it was planning to discontinue the current Proton and replace it with a new, safer version.
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