Top safety rating for Chinese vehicles
Chinese-built vehicles can’t be dismissed as junk any more.
Two Chinese-sourced vehicles – one a ute and the other an SUV – have just become the first sold in New Zealand to be awarded an allimportant five-star crash safety rating.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (Ancap) has announced its top safety mark for the Haval H2 SUV and the LDV T60 ute, plus the Thai-built Honda CR-V SUV.
This is the first time any Chinese vehicles currently on sale in New Zealand have achieved top safety ratings.
AA Motoring Services General Manager Stella Stocks said both the SUV and the ute sit within popular vehicle segments in New Zealand, and are likely to become strong competitors against the traditionally popular brands.
‘‘The Haval H2 has a very competitive price where consumers can get themselves into a brand new small SUV for about $26,000. With a five-star safety rating, it’s not only affordable, but safe,’’ she said.
‘‘Similarly, the LDV T60 stacks up as a real contender in the ute market.’’
Over the last 10 years a number of Chinese-built vehicles have entered the New Zealand new vehicle market with low prices – but they’ve fallen well short in the safety stakes, said Stella Stocks.
‘‘We’ve challenged Chinese manufacturers to lift their game in the safety stakes, and this year they clearly have which is a win for Kiwi car buyers.’’
Both the Haval and LDV have a range of safety assist and crash avoidance technologies on board as standard. However, the T60, like all light commercial utes currently rated, lacks autonomous emergency braking.
LDV New Zealand sales and marketing manager Warren Willmot said he is thrilled the T60 has received the five-star rating on its first attempt.
‘‘LDV is committed to ensuring all future product will get that rating. Next up will be the D90 SUV – and that vehicle does have autonomous emergency braking,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V is praised for providing a broad range of technology, and also offers autonomous emergency braking as an option except on the base model. All variants of the CRV are covered by the five-star rating.
ANCAP is supported by all Australian motoring clubs, the New Zealand Automobile Association, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.