About ANCAP Crash Tests

More information about ANCAP Crash Tests

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) gives consumers consistent information on the level of occupant protection provided by vehicles in serious front and side crashes.

The program is supported by Australian and New Zealand automobile clubs, the State government road and transport authorities of NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia and the New Zealand Government. 

About the Tests

Each vehicle model tested in ANCAP is subjected to an offset crash test into a barrier, a side impact test and a pedestrian impact test. A pole test is optional.

The vehicles purchased for the test program were typical of those vehicles available to new car purchasers.

The offset frontal crash test simulates colliding with another vehicle.

In this test, 40 per cent of the car, on the driver's side, initially makes contact with a crushable aluminium barrier at 64km/h. The side impact test consists of running a 950kg trolley into the driver's side of the test vehicle at 50km/h. The trolley has a crushable aluminium face to simulate the front of another vehicle.

A pole test is an optional extra test, available at the manufacturer's cost, if the vehicle performs very well in the side impact test and is fitted with head protecting side airbags. The vehicle impacts a steel pole lined up with the driver's head, at 29km/h sideways.

The pedestrian impact test estimates injuries to pedestrians struck by a vehicle travelling at 40km/h. 

Pedestrian Impact Tests

Pedestrian Impact tests are also carried out, which estimate head and leg injuries to pedestrians struck by the test vehicle travelling at 40km/h. The results from this test are listed in the ratings below. Pedestrian impacts represent 18 per cent of the fatal road crashes in Australia and New Zealand.

EuroNCAP

European NCAP (EuroNCAP) testing procedures are substantially the same as ANCAP testing procedures. However, the EuroNCAP results are to be used as a guide only, as the structure and equipment of the European specification model may differ materially from that of the Australian or New Zealand vehicle of the same name.

Also, if different safety equipment is fitted, the Australian or New Zealand vehicle of the same name is likely to provide different levels of protection to those noted.

Test Results

To simplify the crash test results and the pedestrian impact results, ANCAP has assigned an occupant rating and a pedestrian rating in stars to each vehicle model. The occupant rating considers the injury measures to the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, upper and lower legs and the deformation of the vehicle’s structure.

The star rating assigned on the basis of the crash test results combines offset and side impact results, and points where advanced seatbelt reminders are fitted, plus points when the optional pole test was conducted.

The pedestrian rating considers the injury measures to the head, upper legs, knees and lower legs when struck by a vehicle travelling at 40km/h.

Making Comparisons

ANCAP results are intended to be used to compare the crash protection provided by vehicles in severe crashes.

Occupants of heavier vehicles in real-world two-vehicle crashes typically fare better than people in lighter vehicles. This is why crash test results shouldn't be compared among vehicles with large weight differences. In many single vehicle crashes, weight offers no safety advantage.

Changes in test protocols

There have been minor changes to the test protocols applied by ANCAP since the Euro NCAP scoring system was adopted in 1999.  Due to these changes, care should be exercised when comparing results across years.

Below is a table which specifies the test protocol versions applied in respect of each testing period.

Test protocol	Offset version	Side impact version	Pole version	Pedestrian version
Test date
Nov 1999-Oct 2000	2.0	2.0
Nov 2000-Oct 2001	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Nov 2001-Nov 2002	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
Dec 2002-Jan 2003	3.1	3.1	3.1	3.1
Feb 2003-Nov 2003	3.1	3.1	3.1	3.1
Dec 2003-Jun 2004	4.0	3.1	4.0	4.0
Jul 2004-onwards	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Jan 2005-Nov 2005	4.1	4.1	4.1	4.1
Dec 2005-Jun 2006	4.1	4.1	4.1	4.1
July 2006-Sept 2007	4.1	4.1	4.1	4.1
Oct 2007-onwards	4.1	4.1	4.1	4.1

EuroNCAP testing protocols are also used in the Australian program.