Camry tops safety ladder

ANCAP has revealed its best safety performers of 2024 as the five-star rated Toyota Camry, Mazda CX-80 and Zeekr X.

The top three were determined using an overall weighting calculation. Emphasis was given to physical crash protection with 40 per cent applied to adult-occupant protection (AOP).

Twenty per cent was applied to each of child-occupant protection, safety assist and vulnerable road-user protection.

The Camry secured the highest overall weighted ranking of all models rated by ANCAP last year with an “impressive” score of 88.4 per cent.

“The Camry excelled with 95 per cent for AOP, the highest AOP score of all vehicles assessed in 2024,” says Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP’ chief executive officer.

“It remains a stable and reliable choice with a safety pedigree that dates back over 13 years.”

In second place was the Mazda CX-80 with 87.6 per cent. The Mazda achieved “healthy” scores across all four assessment pillars, positioning it well in the end-of-year ranking.

“The CX-80 received the second highest AOP score with 92 per cent,” adds Hoorweg. “This was assisted by it gaining full points in side impact, far-side impact, whiplash protection and oblique pole-crash tests.”

Only marginally behind the Mazda was the Zeekr X with 87.4 per cent overall.

Hoorweg says: “We saw a handful of new manufacturers enter the mix locally in 2024. Each of these, including Zeekr, have shown their commitment to bringing five-star cars to Australian and New Zealand consumers.”

Of the 23 vehicles rated by ANCAP last year, 11 of 23 were new models not previously known to the Australasian markets. Except for the Jeep Avenger, all achieved five stars. Seventy-four per cent of all models rated in 2024 got the top rating.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Suzuki Swift received a “disappointing” one-star rating and the lowest weighted score at 56.6 per cent. Hyundai’s i30 and the Avenger each achieved three stars with of 68.2 and 68.4 per cent respectively.

Hoorweg says: “The new year presents an opportunity for manufacturers with upcoming new models to strive for a top ranking, and for models that didn’t achieve the strongest scores in 2024 to enhance safety with future model iterations.”

The full list of vehicles rated by ANCAP in 2024 can be viewed online at www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings.