04 Oct 2012

Good News - Crash avoidance technology: standard. Comforts: optional extras

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) today praised Volkswagen for its inclusion of life-saving crash avoidance technology into their newest, most affordable model on the Australasian market - the Volkswagen Up! small car.

The Volkswagen Up! has achieved the maximum 5 star ANCAP safety rating. Other recent entrants to the Australian market which have also achieved maximum 5 star ANCAP safety ratings are the Opel Astra (1.6L petrol), Astra GTC and Insignia models.

The four-seat Up! provides consumers with class-leading safety including autonomous emergency braking (AEB). Referred to as City Emergency Braking by Volkswagen, this AEB system has been included as standard across all Up! variants demonstrating AEB need no longer be reserved for more expensive luxury models.

"ANCAP is pleased to see that the Up! provides advanced safety features as standard and offers other occupant comforts such as Bluetooth as optional extras," said ANCAP Chairman, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh.

"It is hard to fathom why features that protect vehicle occupants are sold as optional extras by most manufacturers yet alloy wheels and leather seats, for instance, come as standard. The move by Volkswagen to include AEB in the Up! as standard across all variants is a welcome change."

"The standard fitment of safety features and safety technologies is something ANCAP has been advocating for some time and all manufacturers should follow Volkswagen's lead," he added.

AEB systems use a combination of lasers, radar and cameras to detect an imminent rear-end crash and can automatically apply the brakes of a vehicle. The fast adoption of new technologies like AEB could see the road toll halved by 2020.

AEB is currently being considered by ANCAP as a mandatory safety requirement.

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 a full list of ANCAP safety ratings and model specifications, and vehicle safety information visit ancap.com.au.

Opel Astra (2012 - 2014) frontal offset test at 64km/h

Opel Astra GTC (2012 - 2014) frontal offset test at 64km/h

Opel Insignia (2012 - onward) frontal offset test at 64km/h