Stylish cars get top marks for safety

17 November 2009

Style-conscious car buyers now have a greater choice of appealing, trendy cars that are both top-rated for safety and kind to the environment.

The latest Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash tests have given the Mini Cooper diesel hatch, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic diesel hatch, Volvo C30 diesel hatch and Toyota Prius all five stars for safety.

RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown said car buyers who wanted to base their vehicle choice on style and environmental benefit now had the added bonus of safety.

“The best part is that vital safety features are standard in these models, so the buyers don’t have to go out of their way or pay extra for peace of mind,” Mr Brown said.
 
“Safety is becoming more front-of-mind for vehicle manufacturers and as a consequence they are increasingly offering products with the winning trio of safety, style and environmental benefits. This ultimately is an advantage for consumers who don’t want to compromise.”

Other ANCAP tests also had a positive result with the Subaru Liberty Exiga and the upgraded Hyundai Santa Fe both receiving five stars. The Honda City sedan was given four stars because it lacked electronic stability control (ESC), which is mandatory for a five star rating.

All of the five star models include head-protecting side airbags or curtains, antilock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) and ESC as standard. The results apply to all models in the various ranges.

“Safety should never be an optional extra, which is why these latest results are so encouraging,” Mr Brown said.

“Consumers should always check that safety features are included in any vehicle they want to buy, but with many manufacturers now including them as standard, the job of the consumer just got easier.”

The RAC recommends the purchase of four or five star safety rated vehicles.

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