ANCAP: Renault Duster hit with three-star safety rating

ANCAP has delivered its latest batch of new car safety ratings, with a pair of new MG-built models – the IM5 and IM6 – and the Volkswagen Tayron, all awarded a maximum five-star rating. Meanwhile, the new Renault Duster small SUV failed to impress the independent safety body, resulting in a sub-par three-star rating.

The Renault Duster’s three-star ANCAP safety rating comes as a result of poor performance in several key areas, including physical crash tests and its safety assist systems.

While it scored full points for driver protection in the oblique pole crash test and for the driver and child passengers in the side impact test. However, results were mixed in other areas, including weak protection of the driver’s chest (and marginal for the legs) noted during the frontal offset test.

The Duster’s lack of a centre airbag between the driver and passenger raised concerns.

In the full width frontal crash test, marginal chest protection was noted for front and rear passengers, resulting in an overall adult occupant protection score of 70 per cent. The Duster scored much higher (86%) for child occupant protection.

A safety assist score of just 58% was the result of the SUV’s autonomous emergency braking system, which was judged as “less effective in more advanced test scenarios,” such as higher speeds or when turning across traffic.

ANCAP also commended the new Volkswagen Tayron large SUV, which recently gained a five-star safety rating, thanks to its “high levels of occupant protection” across the majority of crash tests.

Meanwhile, MG’s premium sub-brand IM Motors was commended for the safety of its first pair of models, the IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV, the latter of which achieved one of the highest frontal offset test scores to date under current ANCAP protocols. 

ANCAP said the electric IM6 performed strongly across all crash tests, highlighting its lower ‘compatibility’ risk – a measure of the potential risk a vehicle poses to occupants of an oncoming vehicle.

While its performance across most key testing areas was good, ANCAP deducted points in the safety assist segment for the function of the IM6’s intelligent cruise control system, which “does not meet ANCAP requirements,” according to the safety report.

It was a similar story for IM5 sedan, which was said to combine strong structural performance with effective crash restraint systems, resulting in an 89% score for adult and 91% for child occupant protection. It too suffered from the same cruise control woes as its SUV sibling, resulting in a 79% safety assist score for both IM models.

The safety firm’s chief executive Carla Hoorweg said the safety ratings for the premium IM5 and IM6 demonstrate MG’s ability to deliver vehicle safety at a high level. “It’s encouraging to see this level of performance, and we hope to see these features carried across the broader MG range.”

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