Electric SUVs invest in safety
Geely’s EX5 and BYD’s Sealion 7 have achieved top ANCAP ratings to take the total number of five-star electrified models – including battery electric, fuel cell and hybrid-electric vehicles – to 98.
The fully electric EX5, pictured, is a medium-sized SUV and the brand’s first model to be awarded five stars down under.
In tests, its ability to avoid accidents through its advanced driver-assistance systems was assessed as good, including in lane support and car-to-motorcycle tests where full points were scored
In physical crash testing, full points were awarded in the side impact, whiplash and far-side tests. But in the frontal-offset test, which simulates a head-on collision, several welds around the base of the A-pillar became detached.
Geely demonstrated the vehicle’s structure didn’t incur significantly greater damage in a more severe test. However, a penalty was applied to the scoring.
Protection of the rear adult-passenger’s chest was rated as weak in the full-width frontal test, with the Sealion 7 recording the same result.
The EX5 achieved 87 per cent for child-occupant protection with good protection of the six and 10-year-old dummies except the latter’s neck protection, which was adequate.
A direct child-presence detection (CPD) system is also standard on this Geely, but it failed to meet ANCAP requirements so it didn’t achieve any points.
“Geely has made a confident entrance into the Australian and New Zealand markets with the EX5,” says ANCAP’s chief executive officer, Carla Hoorweg. “It delivers good overall safety performance and sets a benchmark for Geely’s local presence.”
High scores
Testing of BYD’s Sealion 7, an electric medium-sized SUV, highlighted strong performance across the four key areas, including 87 per cent for adult-occupant protection.
Weak chest protection was recorded for the rear adult passenger’s chest in the full-width test, “presenting an opportunity for improvement”.
The Sealion 7 scored 93 per cent for child-occupant protection, which equalled the top score for vehicles assessed under ANCAP’s current 2023/25 protocols. It’s fitted with a direct CPD system, which raises an alert when a child is left in a rear seat.
High scores were awarded in AEB tests with a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist and other vehicles, contributing to scores of 76 per cent for vulnerable road-user protection and 78 per cent for safety assist.
Hoorweg says: “As electrified vehicles continue to advance technologically, it’s encouraging to see equal investment in safety.
“Around 5,000 children are rescued from locked cars every year in Australia. We’ve seen recent instances with tragic consequences. ANCAP strongly encourages the inclusion of features, such as CPD, that can alert a driver when a child may have been left in a car.”
