Two SUVS safest cars on NZ roads

Two SUVs vied for the title of the safest vehicle on New Zealand roads this week, the Mercedes- Benz GLC and the Mazda CX- 9.

The award was assessed by the AA, using Australasian New Car Assessment Programme ( ANCAP) crash test performance, pedestrian protection, safety assist and crashavoidance technology. The Mercedes edged out the Mazda, with higher scores on pedestrian protection.

While the award was part of the New Zealand Car of the Year awards, judged by the AA and the Guild of Motoring Writers, the AA assesses the ANCAP data to determine what vehicle wins the safety prize.

Last year the Volvo XC90 and the Hyundai Genesis were joint winners.

AA Motoring Services general manager Stella Stocks told safety was becoming an increasingly important factor in vehicle purchasing.

This was helping to encourage manufacturers to increase the TONY VERDON safety level on their vehicles, although ultimately it was up to drivers and passengers to use their vehicles intelligently.

“If there is one thing that sums up new car safety, it’s quality,” she said.

Aligning ANCAP testing procedures with Euro NCAP testing protocols should be completed by 2018. Stocks says this means slightly different protocols are used for crash tests in Europe compared with ANCAP in this part of the world, making assessment of the safest car challenging when standards are high. However the Mercedes won against a strong performance by the Mazda.

Stocks says standards across the board are consistently continuing to improve. Irrespective of what kind of vehicle a motorist needs, safe options are available. ABOUT US