BYD M9

The BYD M9 is fitted with seatbelt reminders for all seats and can recognise the stature of front-seat occupants to adjust the operation of its restraint systems. It can detect incorrect seatbelt use but not a front-seat passenger who is sitting ‘out-of-position’, for example with their feet on the dashboard.

A child presence detection system is fitted and can notify the driver if a child has been left in the vehicle and activate the air-conditioning.

The driver monitoring system performed well in detecting common forms of distraction. Its ability to detect fatigue or an unresponsive or impaired driver was less comprehensive.

Accessible controls are provided for most key driving functions, although some functions rely too heavily on interaction with the vehicle’s central screen interface.

During the on-road driving assessment, which assesses the accuracy of speed limit identification on local metropolitan and regional roads, the M9 correctly identified 66% of speed change events, equivalent to 94% of the distance driven. Adaptive cruise control performed well in detecting and responding to other vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians and cyclists. It is not, however, able to adapt when approaching road features such as roundabouts and intersections.

The M9 is able to provide steering assistance to the driver - which, when lane centering is active, helps maintain positioning of the vehicle within its intended lane on straight and curved roads at speeds up to 100km/h. Lane Change Assist is not provided.

The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system fitted to the BYD M9 performed well in many scenarios involving other vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians and cyclists.

AEB performance was strong when approaching other road users from behind and when turning across the path of another vehicle, motorcycle or pedestrian. The system was less effective when crossing the path of another vehicle or motorcycle, and when turning across the path of a cyclist.

The lane departure prevention system fitted to the M9 performed well. It can intervene to help prevent the vehicle from running off the road or moving into the path of an oncoming or overtaking car or motorcycle. The system also takes account of the driver’s level of alertness (known as driver state link), helping to avoid unnecessary intervention. The M9’s driver state link function performed well.

Low-speed collision avoidance performance was good. The M9 successfully avoided turning and crossing vehicles and motorcycles, as well as a cyclist crossing its path.

In the manoeuvring assessment, the AEB system helped the M9 avoid a pedestrian when travelling forwards and performed well, though less effectively, when reversing. The M9 can also prevent unintended forward acceleration towards a pedestrian caused by pedal misapplication.

A cyclist dooring system is fitted to help reduce the risk of an occupant opening a door into the path of a cyclist approaching from behind. The system provides a visual alert that a cyclist is approaching, and a warning to occupants when the door is opened, but the warning was issued too late to meet ANCAP requirements for scoring.

The level of crash protection offered by the BYD M9 is high, with strong performance recorded across frontal, side and rear impact assessments. Maximum scores were recorded for the driver, front passenger and child occupants in the frontal offset test. A significant deduction was, however, applied for the M9’s crash compatibility in head-on crashes, where its structure presents a higher risk to occupants of an oncoming vehicle, if struck.

In the full-width frontal test, protection was generally good. Additional virtual and sled testing demonstrated mostly good or adequate levels of protection for occupants of different sizes across a range of crash severities.

Maximum scores were recorded for adult and child occupants in the side impact test. Protection was also good for critical body regions of the driver in the oblique side pole test.

The M9 is fitted with a centre airbag between the front seats. This worked effectively to limit occupant movement towards the struck side and reduce the risk of the driver and front passenger striking each other in a side crash.

Protection for pedestrians and cyclists was varied. Protection of the femur, knee and tibia scored highly, while protection of the pelvis and head was less effective.

The M9 is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages and top tether anchorages for second-row outboard seats and the left third-row seat. All selected child restraints could be fitted in the second row; however, most could not be correctly installed in the left seating position in the third row. Child restraints should not be used in the right and centre seats in the third row.

The post-crash features and capability of the BYD M9 are of a high standard. Rescue information for emergency responders met ANCAP requirements, with both a rescue sheet and emergency response guide available.

eCall functionality is provided to BYD M9 owners in Australia and New Zealand for the minimum six-year period required by ANCAP.

The M9 is equipped with multi-collision braking and hazard light activation which becomes active upon crash impact.

As a plug-in hybrid vehicle, the M9 demonstrated effective battery voltage isolation and post-crash fire risk management.

Seatbelt buckles in all tested seats, all interior and exterior door releases, and the tailgate remained operable following the assessed crash tests - features which help occupants and rescuers access or exit the vehicle.

It was demonstrated that, if the M9 entered water, the windows would remain functional for the minimum required time period - to assist with occupant escape.