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ADELAIDE - Australia's five locally made cars have all scored four-star ratings following the latest crash tests but safety experts have called on them to do better.
In the latest Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) tests the Toyota Aurion, Toyota Camry and Holden Commodore all scored four stars, matching last year's results for the Mitsubishi 380 and the Ford Falcon.
South Australia's Department of Transport director Martin Small said the results were great news for local buyers but the challenge was there for Australian producers to go further and match the five-star ratings scored by some European cars.
"Large, locally made cars have always been popular with Australians and I'm delighted safety standards have improved to this extent," Mr Small said.
"To have all Australian-built vehicles of this kind at the four-star level is a terrific result for everyone concerned.
"The challenge now is for vehicles in this class to achieve five-star ratings."
ANCAP spokesman Mark Borlace said to jump to five stars, locally made cars would need to include more advanced safety features as standard equipment.
He said currently only the Aurion and the Commodore included electronic stability control as a standard feature on all models while life-saving curtain airbags, designed to protect people from head injuries, were not common in large Australian cars.
Mr Borlace also expressed concern at the results for some commercial vehicles in the latest crash tests, particularly the Mitsubishi Express, which scored just one star.
"A one-star rating is well below what widely available occupant protection technology can achieve," he said.
"ANCAP believes drivers of commercial vehicles should be provided with the same level of protection as private vehicles."
The ANCAP tests involve a frontal crash at 64kmh and a side impact test at 50kmh.
- AAP
