Mazda’s debut CX-8 and Volvo’s new XC40 have passed 2018 crash testing criteria with flying colours.
Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) tests which put pass-or-fail emphasis on “safety assist” collision avoidance has seen 2018 date stamps awarded to all-wheel drive XC40 models and the just-launched CX-8.
The Mazda’s lack of AEB for cyclists fared well for the Volvo which gets the full suite and scored “adequate” in testing.
Although in AEB pedestrian tests, the CX-8 scored generally “good” in all AEB tests except with forward collision warning where an ‘adult walking along road’ it scored poor in a ‘night’ setting.
The Volvo scored “weak” where a pedestrian crosses the road from a kerb.
The Volvo scored marginally higher than the Mazda with 78% in safety assist, 71% in pedestrian protection and 97% in adult occupant destructive tests, although the CX-8 scored a higher 87% on child occupant protection helped by a nine out of 13 score for “on-board features” related to child seat fitment.
The XC40 was scored a lower six out of 13 where a forward-facing, belted, convertible child seat (type B) and a booster seat of for four-to-eight years of age (type E) could not be fitted safely in the second row.
The CX-8 scored better in this test, however was marked slightly down for difficulty safely fitting a type A rearward facing capsule in the second row.
The Mazda also scored additional points for its child restraint fitments in the third row of seats, which the five-seat XC40 does not feature a third row.
ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin says to have the newest entrants to the market rate so well speaks volumes to consumers.
“We’re looking at the performance and effectiveness of active safety assist technologies, and the ability of a vehicle to protect a broader range of occupants, including children and females,” he says.
“Parents of young children will know that not all vehicles have the ability to safely fit child restraints in all seating positions,” Goodwin says.
“To assist, child restraint installation now forms part of each rating.”
The effects of vehicle crashes on the most vulnerable of passengers is scrutinised under new testing.
“We are assessing the correct installation of a range of commonly available restraints – from newborn to 10 years – in each of the rear seating positions, and six year and 10 year child dummies now feature in our physical crash tests,” Goodwin highlights.
He says there are now over 100 different scenarios under which vulnerable road user safety is now tested.
“The XC40 performed well across all areas of assessment, offering emergency lane keeping functionality and the full range of autonomous emergency braking systems,” Goodwin continues.
“Good levels of performance were achieved by the CX-8 in the area of Child Occupant Protection, with our assessment engineers praising its ability to safely accommodate child restraints in all five rear seating positions,” he adds.
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