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Low-Cost Imported Utes Score Poorly In Safety Tests


Low-Cost Imported Utes Score Poorly In Safety Tests

Author: NRMA Motoring & ServicesDate: 29 September 2009

NRMA Motoring & Services today released results of ANCAP crash tests on three imported utes which all scored poorly.

NRMA's vehicle safety expert Jack Haley said the Malaysian Proton Jumbuck ute only rated a single star while the highly anticipated Great Wall Motors SA220 and V240 utes from China received only two stars out of five.

"These results are of great concern, particularly since commercial vehicles are now more commonly rating 4 and 5-stars," Mr Haley said.

"Crash statistics show that occupants of 1 or 2-star vehicles have twice the risk of receiving life-threatening injuries in a crash, compared with 4 or 5-star vehicles."

Mr Haley said that new vehicles that achieve only a 1 or 2-star ANCAP rating - while still meeting the Australian Design Rules - are a cause for concern.

"The results for the Great Wall Motors utes were particularly disappointing as these are new models to the market," Mr Haley said.

"The SA220 and the Jumbuck don't have airbags and other safety features that should be expected as standard equipment by new car buyers."

"The V240 has dual airbags but these failed to fully protect the driver and passenger from injury in ANCAP crash tests."

The three utilities performed poorly in the ANCAP offset crash test and all experienced loss of cabin structural integrity, with poor head and leg protection during the test.

For a full list of ANCAP vehicle safety ratings, including commercial vehicles, and other vehicle safety information, click here.

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