Five star service for NZ

The Subaru WRX has just received a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

A maximum five-star Ancap safety rating was announced for the new sedan version of the top-selling Toyota Corolla launched in New Zealand this week (see page 9).

The Peugeot 5008 and Subaru WRX also added five-star safety ratings to their spec sheets.

Achieving a similar overall score to that of its hatch sibling, the Corolla provides good structural protection and offers a reversing camera as standard across the sedan range.

The Peugeot 5008 people mover scored well across all tests to achieve the top rating.

The 5008 also comes standard with a reversing camera and advanced seat belt reminders are fitted to all seats, including the third row. Head-protecting side-curtain airbags also extend to the third row.

"Consumers are now spoiled for choice with the number of five-star models on the market," says Ancap chairman Lauchlan McIntosh.

Subaru has again ensured its policy to build nothing less than five-star cars is retained with the Subaru WRX to be launched in New Zealand this month.

The WRX joins a small group of models that have achieved the top pedestrian protection result of "Good" - a step above the current minimum five-star standard of "Acceptable".

"This is the direction in which we want to see manufacturers heading," says McIntosh.

"In recent years we've seen manufacturers achieve vastly improved results with the majority of major brands now building to five-star standards. What we want to see now is manufacturers which strive beyond the requirements."