The Suzuki Swift has been hit hard with a 1-star rating from the latest round of Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) crash-test and active safety testing. The other two vehicles in the round, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Kia EV5, both received 5 stars.
There had been controversy around the 4th-generation Swift's safety rating since launch earlier this year; it came with a 3-star rating from Europe, but Suzuki Australia assured that vehicles sold in this part of the world differed in key areas and was hopeful of a better result when tested locally.
Unfortunately, the ANCAP test did not go the brand's way. Crash protection performance was identified as the main factor behind the Swift's low rating by ANCAP, with 47% for Adult Occupant Protection and 59% for Child Occupant Protection. It also only scored 54% in Safety Assist (technology that helps a car avoid a collision).
Performance variation was seen in the frontal offset and full-width crash tests compared to European-market vehicles, with higher chest loads and leg injury risk (excessive pedal movement) to the driver in the frontal offset test, and a significantly greater rear-passenger chest compression measurement recorded in the full-width test.
Protection of the chest – a critical body region – was therefore assessed as Poor and the score capped, resulting in 0 points awarded for this test.
“The design of some of the structural elements and restraints in locally-sold Swift vehicles appear to lack robustness leading to variation in crash performance,” says ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg.
The Suzuki Swift is not the only model to enter the Australasian market with different safety credentials to its European counterpart. It follows safety-related differences recently uncovered through ANCAP assessments of the Honda Civic, CR-V and ZR-V. ANCAP and Euro NCAP test and rating criteria were aligned in 2018 to promote consistency across markets, but ANCAP says "scrutiny of locally available models remains essential to identify specification differences".
The Swift is highly acclaimed in other areas. It was awarded best Passenger car in the AA DRIVEN Car of the Year programme for 2024, and is a finalist in the NZ Motoring Writers Guild Car of the Year (to be announced early-2025).
Meanwhile, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was awarded 85% for Adult Occupant Protection, 89% for Child Occupant, 84% for Vulnerable Road User and 82% for Safety Assist to earn its 5-star rating.
All variants of the Kia EV5 recently launched in Australasia qualify for a 5-star rating and ANCAP noted especially impressive vehicle-to-vehicle crash performance.
However, ANCAP says it also provided some "constructive feedback" for Kia, with a small opening detected in the footwell seam following the frontal offset test; a reduced level of head-to-head contact protection to front seat occupants in the oblique pole test; and potential hard knee contact for front seat occupants in the frontal offset test. Penalties were applied.
Other 5-star performers announced this month include the Lexus LBX, Volvo EX30, Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid and Leapmotor C10. The new-generation MG ZS hybrid got 4 stars, while the Jeep Avenger (only just launched in Australia) was awarded 3 stars.