Following testing against the latest 2023-2025 criteria, the Kia EV9, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and BMW 5 Series have each achieved five-star ANCAP safety ratings.

The electric Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV scored maximum points for its protection of the driver in the side impact test, for the front seat passenger in the frontal offset test, and for the protection of child occupants in both the side impact and frontal offset tests. A centre airbag to protect front seat occupants in side impact crashes is fitted, however evidence to demonstrate that the airbag would protect a range of occupant sizes was not provided by the manufacturer and points for this area of assessment were not awarded.  

Good performance was demonstrated in active lane keep assist test and across the range of car-to-car, car-to-cyclist and car-to-motorcycle AEB tests.  The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is fitted with a pedestrian-detecting autonomous emergency braking system that functions in reverse (AEB Backover), and tests of this system showed Good performance. 

The three-row electric Kia EV9 demonstrated similar levels of active safety performance to the EQE SUV, with maximum points scored for its car-to-car AEB and lane keep assist functionality. The Kia EV9 is also fitted with an AEB Backover system however this is not standard in the European market and was not tested.  

An evaluation of direct driver monitoring systems (DMS) is now included as part of ANCAP's 2023-2025 assessment criteria, and the Kia EV9 offers a direct DMS as standard.  The DMS in the EV9 is capable of detecting long and short periods of driver distraction as well as driver drowsiness and microsleep.  The system can warn the driver and enhance the sensitivity of crash avoidance systems if distraction or fatigue are detected.  An indirect child presence detection (CPD) system, that provides an alert when a child may have been left in the vehicle, is also standard for all second and third row passenger seats.

In destructive crash tests, the Kia EV9 offered a mix of Good and Adequate performance for its protection of adult and child occupants.  Marginal protection was recorded for the driver's chest in the oblique pole test, and the rear passenger's chest in the full width test.

Strong performance across the range of physical crash tests contributed to the five-star ANCAP safety rating awarded to the BMW 5 Series.  This rating, which also applies to i5 electric variants, was bolstered by its strong scores for its protection of vulnerable road users – both through physical design and active collision avoidance capability. 

An indirect DMS is fitted as standard to the 5 Series, and information was also provided to demonstrate that, should the 5 Series become submerged in water, all windows and doors would remain functional for a minimum of two minutes once battery power had been lost.

Six vehicle models have now been assessed against ANCAP's 2023-2025 criteria. 

"While 2023 has been a fairly lean year in terms of new ratings, the great news for new car buyers is that each of the 2023 ratings published to date are five star ratings," said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.

"As we approach the end of the year, we are expecting to apply a few more ratings to models that have recently entered the market, so if you're looking to buy a new car, keep an eye on the ANCAP website," Ms Hoorweg added.

To view each of these new ratings, and the ratings for more than 1000 vehicle models, visit www.ancap.com.au. 

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EDITOR'S NOTE:

• Four-star safety ratings which apply to European-specified vehicles supplied in the European market have today been published by Euro NCAP for the Hyundai Kona and Honda ZR-V. 
• Despite both models being on sale locally for some time, to date, both Hyundai and Honda have been unable to provide the necessary technical evidence to confirm the safety specification and performance of Australian and New Zealand supplied vehicles in time for this release.
• ANCAP will look to publish locally-applicable ratings for the Hyundai Kona and Honda ZR-V vehicles specified for and supplied in Australia and New Zealand once clarification on vehicle specification and appropriate technical evidence has been received and assessed.