Mitsubishi Australia’s upcoming ASX small SUV is set to arrive with a four-star ANCAP safety rating, derived from testing of its European counterpart, the Renault Captur. Although this rating falls short of the top-tier five-star benchmark, Mitsubishi Australia’s management remains confident it will not deter the model’s primary customer base. According to Tim Clarke, Mitsubishi Australia’s SUV and Electrification Product Strategy Manager, the brand’s internal research indicates that private buyers—who make up the majority of ASX customers—prioritise advanced technology and affordability over achieving a five-star safety rating. Clarke explained that while the Euro NCAP awarded the ASX’s equivalent model four stars, this result will be reviewed locally by ANCAP for official listing on its website.
ANCAP, Australia’s vehicle safety authority, aligns its testing and standards with those of Euro NCAP. However, it requires vehicles to include specific active safety features as standard equipment to qualify for five stars, even if their crash performance is strong. Among these mandatory technologies are autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and a driver monitoring system. The current ASX platform lacks the latter, which prevents it from reaching the highest rating. These criteria will become even more demanding from 2026, making it increasingly difficult for manufacturers to meet the five-star threshold without significant cost increases.
Based on the 2024 European tests of the mechanically related Renault Symbioz, the Captur achieved 80 percent for child occupant protection, 76 percent for adult occupant safety, and 76 percent for vulnerable road user protection. In the safety assist category, it scored 69 percent—just below the 70 percent requirement for a five-star rating. To earn five stars under Euro NCAP and ANCAP standards, a vehicle must reach at least 80 percent in both adult and child protection, and 70 percent or more in the remaining two categories. Despite falling slightly short, the new ASX remains structurally sound and well-equipped, though its absence of a driver monitoring system remains a limiting factor.
While this rating will not significantly affect private sales, it may reduce the model’s appeal among fleet buyers. Many businesses and government fleets require five-star ANCAP vehicles for procurement, and last year, non-private buyers accounted for nearly 40 percent of ASX sales. This could marginally restrict the SUV’s sales potential in the commercial market.
Mitsubishi is not alone in facing this challenge. Other popular small SUVs, including the MG ZS and Hyundai Kona—the top two sellers in the segment—also carry four-star ANCAP ratings. Similarly, the Cupra Tavascan, Honda HR-V, and Jeep Avenger fall below the five-star mark. Mitsubishi Australia’s General Manager of Product Strategy, Bruce Hampel, noted that achieving five stars is becoming increasingly expensive due to evolving safety regulations. He added that automakers must now balance the cost of compliance with their goal of offering value to consumers.
Hampel further highlighted a growing issue in the market: modern vehicles are often overloaded with advanced safety technologies that many drivers find confusing or intrusive. He explained that customers increasingly request simpler ways to disable certain systems. Mitsubishi, in response, is exploring how to make its ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) features more user-friendly and customizable. Hampel acknowledged that while ANCAP’s strict protocols aim to improve safety, customer feedback shows a growing preference for intuitive, less intrusive systems.
Ultimately, both Clarke and Hampel maintain that a four-star rating under today’s stringent criteria still represents a high level of safety—comparable or superior to what was once considered five-star a few years ago. Their challenge now lies in educating consumers that the ASX remains a safe, modern, and value-driven option, even if it does not meet ANCAP’s most demanding standards.