The Toyota Prado and Kia EV5 have excelled in the latest round of safety assessments conducted by ANCAP earning five-star safety ratings. Meanwhile, the locally-sold Suzuki Swift delivered a one-star rating. According to ANCAP, this version of the vehicle has notable differences in performance compared to its European counterpart.
Toyota Prado: Solid Safety Results
The all-new Toyota Prado has met high expectations, achieving five-star ratings across its range in Australia and New Zealand. Testing revealed strong results in all four key assessment areas: Adult Occupant Protection (85 per cent), Child Occupant Protection (89 per cent), Vulnerable Road User Protection (84 per cent), and Safety Assist (82 per cent).
In the frontal offset crash test, the Prado provided high levels of protection, with maximum points awarded for the child dummies in the second row. However, protection for the driver’s lower leg and chest was rated as Adequate and Marginal, respectively.
The Prado’s advanced collision avoidance systems also performed well, effectively detecting vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists in most on-track scenarios.
“The new Toyota Prado delivers a robust level of safety that aligns with the expectations of fleet buyers and everyday consumers. This is yet another strong result with the new generation Prado demonstrating Toyota’s continued focus on safety across its model line-up,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.
Kia EV5: A High-Performing Electric SUV
The Kia EV5, introduced in October 2024, also secured a five-star ANCAP safety rating. The mid-size electric SUV performed well in several areas. It scored maximum points for the driver in the side impact test, both child dummies in the frontal offset test, and its autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
Noteworthy features include multi-collision braking, submergence countermeasures, and a first-responder Rescue Sheet, underscoring the vehicle’s focus on post-crash safety. However, testing revealed some areas for improvement, such as a small footwell opening detected in the frontal offset test and limited head-to-head contact protection in the oblique pole test.
“The Kia EV5 has been put through its paces, with notable areas of good performance as well as some areas we hope Kia will look to enhance,” said Ms Hoorweg.
Suzuki Swift: A Concerning One-Star Rating
The Suzuki Swift’s performance fell far short of expectations. It achieved just a one-star safety rating for models sold in Australia and New Zealand. This result contrasts with the three-star rating earned by its European counterpart, raising concerns about the structural differences between the two versions.
Testing revealed several shortcomings, including higher chest loads and leg injury risks in the frontal offset test and significant rear passenger chest compression in the full-width test. As a result, ANCAP rated chest protection as Poor, awarding zero points for certain tests.
“The design of some of the structural elements and restraints in locally-sold Swift vehicles appear to lack robustness, leading to variation in crash performance,” Ms Hoorweg explained.
ANCAP recorded one of its lowest scores for Child Occupant Protection, with a 59 per cent rating. The head and chest of child dummies showed poor protection in both frontal and side-impact crash tests.
“This one-star result serves as an important reminder for prospective buyers to check the ANCAP safety rating of the vehicle they’re looking to buy,” added Ms Hoorweg.
The Swift joins a growing list of vehicles with safety discrepancies between Australasian and European markets. This highlights the importance of scrutinising locally available models.
Full details on the safety performance of each model can be seen at:
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