MEDIA RELEASE
7 August 2007
AAA WELCOMES SMALL CAR SAFETY RATINGS
Australia’s peak motoring organisation today challenged new car buyers to ensure
they have the latest safety features when making their new car purchase.
The Australian Automobile Association - which represents Australia’s motoring clubs
and 6.5 million motoring members - welcomed the latest star rating results of small
cars issued today by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
ANCAP awarded the Toyota RAV4 and Honda Civic four star ratings out of five in its
latest round of crash testing. In addition, ANCAP also released a five-star rating for
the new Ford Focus, based on testing by EuroNCAP.
ANCAP noted the “pleasing” four and five star results, saying they showed that small
cars can score in the top safety categories in crash tests.
The good results were based on the provision of side airbags and ESC in some
models of the vehicles - but not all.
AAA Executive Director, Mike Harris, welcomed the small car results and stressed
they provided important information to the motoring public on what safety features
are available and what models.
“People need to ensure these safety features are available when they make their
new car purchase - whether they be families or major fleet car buyers it is all about
safety,” Mr Harris said.
“These features are proven by ANCAP and the automotive industry to save lives,
injury and trauma.
“It is good news to see the industry increasingly providing these latest technologies in
their vehicles, though often not in all models. But we need to challenge consumers both private and fleet buyers - to specify these safety packs and ensure they are on
the vehicle they purchase.
“Fleet buyers, in particular, have major leverage through their purchasing power to
ensure safety features on their vehicles.”
ANCAP’s small car safety ratings are on the attached table – the full list of vehicle
safety ratings can be viewed on the ANCAP website at www.ancap.com.au
* * * * * *
Contact:
Mike Harris Executive Director
Allan Yates Communications Manager
0408 952 648
0421 150 229
Constituent Members
ANCAP SMALL CAR SAFETY RATING RESULTS
Vehicle Model
Occupant
protection star
rating
Pedestrian
protection star
rating


Toyota RAV 4 CV2 2006-on
Dual front airbags are standard.


Honda Civic VTi3 2006-on
Dual front airbags are standard.


Ford Focus1 mid 2007-on
Dual front, side & curtain airbags.
Notes:
1.
Ford Focus
a. Dual front airbags are standard on all variants.
b. Side airbags are standard on all variants except CL.
c. Curtain airbags are standard on XR5 and available as an option on all
other variants.
d. ESC is standard on Zetec, Ghia and XR5 and available as an option on all
other variants.
2.
Toyota RAV 4
a. Dual front airbags are standard an all variants.
b. Side & curtain airbags & ESC are optional on CV and standard on Cruiser.
3.
Honda Civic
a. Dual front airbags are standard on all variants.
b. Side & curtain airbags & ESC are available on some variants only.