ANCAP has released the results of what is expected to be one of the final rounds of crash testing conducted under its current safety assessment framework. In this latest announcement, several new and updated vehicles have been evaluated, with the Toyota HiLux ute, Hyundai Palisade large SUV, Denza B5 plug-in hybrid, and GAC Aion V electric vehicle all achieving the maximum five-star safety rating. In contrast, the Mitsubishi ASX has received a four-star result, based on Euro NCAP testing of its closely related counterparts, the Renault Captur and Renault Symbioz small SUVs.
These results come just ahead of a significant update to ANCAP’s testing protocols, which will apply to vehicles assessed from 2026 onwards. Under the revised criteria, vehicles may be penalised for features such as overly intrusive safety alerts, excessive reliance on touch-based controls, and powered door handles that fail to extend following a collision. Because several of the newly tested models are not sold in Europe, ANCAP carried out local testing in Australia for the Toyota HiLux, Hyundai Palisade, and Denza B5. Meanwhile, safety scores for the GAC Aion V and Mitsubishi ASX were sourced directly from Euro NCAP assessments.
Testing of the latest-generation Toyota HiLux, which has recently arrived in Australian dealerships, produced strong and consistent results across all major safety categories. The vehicle achieved an 84 per cent score for Adult Occupant Protection, 89 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 82 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 82 per cent for Safety Assist technologies. ANCAP noted that the HiLux delivered “Good” performance across all four pillars of assessment. However, pedestrian impact testing revealed a weaker area, with a ‘Poor’ rating assigned to the stiffness of the windscreen pillars and the leading edge of the bonnet.
It is important to note that the HiLux’s five-star rating does not extend to the Rugged X variant, which features a factory-fitted front protection bar. This version remains officially unrated. The Hyundai Palisade also secured a five-star score, recording 84 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 86 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 71 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 73 per cent for Safety Assist. To qualify for a five-star ANCAP rating, vehicles must meet minimum thresholds of 80 per cent in adult and child protection, and at least 70 per cent in both vulnerable road user protection and safety assist.
During frontal-offset crash testing of the Palisade, a minor structural issue was identified, with a small opening detected in the seam between panels in the footwell area. This resulted in a deduction to the driver’s lower-leg protection score due to reduced structural integrity. Additionally, certain dashboard components were flagged as posing a potential injury risk to the driver and front passenger, leading to a ‘Marginal’ score for upper-leg protection. ANCAP also noted that the Palisade’s driver-monitoring camera system has not yet been formally assessed.
The Mitsubishi ASX received a four-star rating after falling short of the required threshold for Adult Occupant Protection, scoring 76 per cent instead of the minimum 80 per cent needed for five stars. ANCAP attributed this result to weak protection of the driver’s chest in a simulated head-on collision, as well as the absence of a front-centre airbag designed to reduce head contact between front occupants in side-impact crashes. In other areas, the ASX performed well, scoring 83 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 76 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 70 per cent for Safety Assist.
ANCAP highlighted that the ASX’s four-star result represents a step down from its previous five-star rating, which was awarded in 2014 under significantly less demanding criteria and has since expired. Meanwhile, the Denza B5 and GAC Aion V both recorded strong performances, with adult protection scores of 86 per cent and 88 per cent, child protection scores of 95 per cent and 87 per cent, vulnerable road user protection of 74 per cent and 79 per cent, and safety assist results of 78 per cent and 79 per cent respectively. ANCAP also noted that the Toyota HiLux and Denza B5 pose a greater risk to occupants of oncoming vehicles in head-on collisions, resulting in the maximum eight-point penalty for vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility. All five vehicles assessed in this round are now available for sale in Australia.