Large SUV gets four stars
All Hyundai Palisade LX2 diesel models sold in New Zealand and Australia from November 2020 have failed to score a top Ancap safety rating.
Instead, they have been given four-star ratings after achieving scores of 79 per cent for adult occupant protection (AOP), 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 63 per cent for vulnerable road-user protection and 63 per cent for safety assist.
The car’s AOP and safety-assist scores limited the LX’s ability to reach five stars because respective score thresholds of 80 per cent and 70 per cent are required.
“The Palisade fell short in two of the four key areas of assessment,” said Ancap’s chief executive officer, Carla Hoorweg. “This has seen it unable to meet the top level of safety that families and fleets have come to expect.”
As the only top 10-selling model in the large SUV segment without an independent safety rating, the Hyundai, pictured being tested, was put through its paces against the current 2020-22 test and rating criteria. All other models in the segment hold a five-star Ancap rating.
The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep assistance systems fitted to the LX2 “lack the sophistication of systems fitted to peer vehicles assessed to the same criteria and have limited its rating in safety assist area”.
AEB junction functionality, which helps avoid collisions in intersection turning-across-path scenarios, multi-collision braking and a speed-limit information system are not available. Emergency lane-keeping functionality is “limited”, adds Ancap.
Looking at physical crash performance, a marginal score was achieved for the chest of the driver in the oblique pole test.
The LX2 Palisade also doesn’t offer a centre airbag, which can assist with improving head protection for front-seat occupants in side-impact crashes.
“While not a prescribed prerequisite for a five-star rating, the presence of a centre airbag in this model could potentially improve its AOP score,” says Hoorweg. “Protection from whiplash injury could also be improved for second and third row occupants.
“Ancap understands Hyundai plans to introduce a mid-cycle update to the Palisade in coming months at which time safety-related changes introduced to the updated model will be assessed.
“This is a competitive market and segment so we’d encourage Hyundai to do what it can to bring the Palisade to an equal footing with its competitors.
“Thirty-five of the 37 new models rated by Ancap to our 2020-22 criteria – including the Hyundai Staria, Staria-Load, Tucson and Ioniq 5 – have achieved five-star ratings.
“This highlights the great work Hyundai and other vehicle manufacturers are doing to prioritise safety and provide customers with the safest vehicles they can.”
