Three diamonds trumps five stars

The Mirage scored solid results across all safety tests by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. Photo / Supplied

New Mirage, Beetle win top marks for safety

'More five-star cars on the market means safer drivers, occupants and pedestrians'Lauchlan McIntosh, ANCAP chairmanThe new Beetle lifted its rating to five stars from the previous model's four.

Mitsubishi's Mirage has picked up the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, immediately following its official launch back into the New Zealand market.

The Mirage has been off the Mitsubishi menu for around a decade, but managed to score solid results across all the safety tests by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program.

Another well-known nameplate, the Volkswagen Beetle, also recorded five stars, as did the slightly less iconic Ford Kuga.

The Kuga has upheld its five-star rating across all variants of its second-generation model, which is set to launch in New Zealand later this year.

The new Beetle also scored well across all tests increasing its safety rating to five stars - a lift from the previous Beetle's four-star rating.

"With a record number of new cars sold in 2012 and continued strong sales in the first month of 2013, it is most encouraging to see that nearly 70 per cent of new cars sold in January held a five-star ANCAP safety rating," said ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh, referring to the Australian market.

"ANCAP wants to see this positive trend continue as we raise the bar for all safety ratings year on year.

"More five-star cars on the market means safer drivers, occupants and pedestrians," added Mr McIntosh.

ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation. For information on crash test results: bit.ly/Y7BWXo