ANCAP has released safety ratings for five vehicle models, with the all-electric Suzuki e VITARA achieving a four-star rating while the newly introduced Audi Q3 secured five stars under the organisation’s 2023–2025 criteria.
The Suzuki e VITARA demonstrated sound capability in most areas of safety performance but was constrained by its Adult Occupant Protection score. Results in the full width test ranged from good to weak, while the electric small SUV lacks a head-protecting centre airbag to reduce injury to occupants in side impact crashes.
The Audi Q3 delivered well-rounded safety performance to achieve the five-star rating, reflecting what ANCAP says is the level of performance required to achieve the highest safety rating.
Three models were also reassessed following specification changes, with mixed results across the group.
The Audi A3 and Cupra Leon small cars each retained their five-star ANCAP safety ratings, with both models continuing to offer high levels of safety performance across all assessment areas.
However, the Nissan Qashqai was reassessed to a four-star rating. While child occupant protection remains a strong suit for the updated Qashqai, its safety performance in other assessment areas was not able to keep pace with contemporary five-star levels.
ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg said the results reflect improvements in safety performance across the market.
“It’s encouraging to see improvements in safety performance across the market, this latest rating achieved by the e VITARA is evidence Suzuki can produce a model that offers sound levels of safety performance,” Hoorweg said.
“These outcomes show that higher levels of safety are within reach, and that continued focus on delivering consistent performance across all areas is key to achieving the highest rating.”
Full details on the performance of all models assessed by ANCAP are available at the organisation’s website.
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