Maximum safety rating for popular ute

16 June 2010

The Ford Falcon utility has received the maximum five-star safety rating in the most recent round of Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash testing, making it the second Australian-made utility to achieve five stars.

The Falcon’s maximum safety rating comes after ANCAP awarded five stars to the full Holden Commodore ute range in October 2009.

RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown welcomed the Falcon ute’s rating, saying it was good to see these Australian-made utes achieving higher safety ratings from ANCAP.

“These utilities are very popular both as recreational vehicles and as workhorses, so it is important that they are available with the same 5-star occupant safety as their sedan equivalents,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown said that while it is good that there are more cars available with safety options that help them achieve a 5-star safety rating, manufacturers should be encouraged to provide 5-star rated vehicles as a standard across their model ranges.

The Falcon ute’s 5-star ratings apply to six and eight-cylinder models fitted with ESC, head and chest protecting side airbags and tunnel-mounted transmission control gear shift.

ANCAP first tested the Falcon Ute in 2008 and it earned a 4-star rating. The latest crash tests assessed the extra protection provided by the optional side airbags with head protection.

ANCAP also released a 5-star safety rating for the BMW X1, based on crash test data from ANCAP’s sister program, EuroNCAP.

The Mazda2, with dual airbags, rated 4-stars. In 2008, ANCAP published a 5-star rating for the Mazda2 when optioned with 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Consumers should note the difference in the various model options.

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