Small cars are no crash test dummies

By ANGELA GREGORY

Three new small cars sold in New Zealand have earned high marks for safety in Australian crash tests.

The Holden Barina, Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza were each awarded four out of a possible five stars in tests measuring occupant protection in serious frontal and side-impact crashes.

The least-safe small car in the latest round of testing by the Independent Australian New Car Assessment Program was the Daewoo Lanos, which scored one star.

But the model tested did not have an airbag - unlike the Lanos imported to New Zealand which is fitted with one on the driver's side.

Land Transport Safety Authority director David Wright said it was encouraging to see more small cars earning high marks for safety.

Others that had rated highly in identical tests in Japan and Europe included the Audi A3, Holden Astra, Mercedes A140, Peugeot 206, Toyota Echo, VW Golf and VW Beetle.

"It's evident that many small cars are being designed with the safety of drivers and passengers in mind, and it's pleasing to see so many are achieving three or four- star ratings."

But Mr Wright said the tests showed there was still a high risk of life-threatening injury in some models.

The tests included an offset frontal crash at 64 km/h, and a side-impact test at 50 km/h.

Dummies were used to measure the degree of injury that would be inflicted on front-seat occupants wearing safety belts.

Mr Wright said the crash dummy tests accurately reflected the type of injuries people suffered on the road.

The LTSA joined the Australian assessment programme last year to improve consumer access to vehicle safety information and encourage manufacturers to make further safety improvements to their vehicles.

The LTSA website, which carries lists of previous tests, warns there could be variations between models tested and those available in New Zealand.

A change to the rating system in the past 18 months also meant comparisons with cars rated in the old system could not be easily made.

Subaru of New Zealand sales and marketing manager Rod Cunningham said the results for the Subaru Impreza were pleasing.

The Japanese manufacturer was very technologically driven and engineering based. "They are very soundly designed cars."

Mr Cunningham said wing face reinforcing frames circled the car and joined other subframes to create a very safe passenger cell.

The box engine also sat low in the car so it would move beneath a passenger in a head-on collision.

ANCAP crash test results