Top safety performers for 2022 announced

ANCAP SAFETY, Australia and New Zealand’s independent voice on vehicle safety, has revealed its top performing vehicles for the 2022 calendar year, and the overall top performers against 2020-2022 rating criteria.

• The Tesla Model Y (Small SUV) was the top performer for 2022, achieving an overall weighted score of 92.6%.
• Achieving the second-highest overall weighted score for 2022 was the Lexus NX (Medium SUV) at 89.2%.
• The third-highest overall score for 2022 was shared by the LDV MIFA 9 and LDV MIFA (People Movers) at 87.4%.

Top performers must offer a balance of strong performance across all four key areas of safety assessment.

“Once again, we’ve seen high levels of safety performance across a range of vehicle types and brands. Of interest this year is that each of the three highest scorers include alternative-powered models,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.

Looking more broadly at the 69 vehicle models rated against the outgoing 2020-2022 test and rating criteria:

• Tesla Model Y achieved the highest scores in the Adult Occupant Protection (97%) and Safety Assist (98%) assessment areas.
• Ford Ranger, Ford Everest, Nissan Qashqai and Nissan Pathfinder shared the highest score for Child Occupant Protection (93%).
• Toyota Corolla Cross achieved the highest score for Vulnerable Road User Protection (87%).

Sixty-one of the 69 vehicle models (88%) rated by ANCAP over the past three years achieved a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating. Thirty-one models (45%) rated over this period were those which offer an alternative-powered drivetrain.

“This clearly shows the desire and commitment of vehicle manufacturers to offer the safest vehicles they can into the Australian and New Zealand markets, and the continued appetite of consumers and fleet buyers who expect the highest level of safety.”

“We know the continued injection of the safest vehicles onto our roads has tangible road safety and economic benefits, and this strong performance of models rated over the past three years will see even an even greater number of lives saved and serious injuries avoided,” Ms Hoorweg added.

ANCAP’s rating program enhances the safety of the Australasian vehicle fleet by encouraging fitment of safety technologies ahead of government regulation. ANCAP’s encouragement of autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, and centre airbag technologies is conservatively estimated to have contributed to 22 fewer fatalities and 571 serious injuries on Australian roads over the period 2019-2021, and is projected to result in 15 fewer fatalities and 442 serious injuries in 2027 alone.^

The full list of vehicles rated by ANCAP can be viewed, sorted and filtered at www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings.

^ Economic Connections (ECON) Report on ANCAP’s Role to Reduce Road Trauma (August 2022).