Kia ute gains top safety rating
The Kia Tasman dual cab utility has achieved the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating after performing well across a range of crash protection and collision avoidance tests.
ANCAP says the first ute for Kia delivered strong safety outcomes across all four key areas of assessment – adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection and safety assist.
It notes this rating comes at a time when utes continue to dominate the trans-Tasman new-car market, with such vehicles accounting for four of the eight best-selling models in New Zealand in June.
Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP chief executive officer, says: “The popularity of utes among consumers continues to rise.
“Given their time spent on the road both as commercial workhorses and family transport, it is important that models in this high-volume segment offer robust levels of safety,”
The Kia Tasman was subject to independent testing and assessment against ANCAP’s 2023-2025 criteria.
Notable high scores, denoting low risk of injury, were recorded for each of the adult and child dummy occupants in the frontal offset crash test.
ANCAP says equally impressive was the moderately low crash compatibility risk. This assessment evaluates the risk the test vehicle poses to potential crash partner vehicles and their occupants.
A concern was noted in the full-width frontal crash test where the pelvis of the driver dummy slipped beneath the lap section of the seatbelt. A penalty was applied to its score as a result.
“Fleet buyers and potential Tasman customers across the country have been eagerly awaiting the Tasman’s safety rating and this five-star result will be welcome news,” says Hoorweg.
“With such strong market presence and consumer demand, it’s pleasing to see manufacturers continuing to prioritise safety in this segment.
“The dual cab shopping list is already healthy, and we expect to see it grow further with other new contenders entering the market in the coming months.”
Hoorweg adds consumers and fleets should check the ANCAP website regularly to ensure they have all the information they need to make an informed, and safe, purchasing decision.
With the exception of the X-Line and X-Pro, the five-star rating for the Kia Tasman applies to 4x4 dual cab variants currently on sale.
X-Line and X-Pro variants, as well as 4x2 rear-wheel-drive, and upcoming single-cab and dual-cab chassis variants have not been assessed by ANCAP and are unrated.
To view full details on the performance of the Kia Tasman, click here.
