Three utes sold in New Zealand have just received dismal safety ratings by independent crash test organisation ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program).

The Proton Jumbuck ($24,000) received the worst crash test result of any vehicle currently being sold in New Zealand. The Jumbuck, manufactured in Malaysia, was awarded a very poor one-star rating after its performance in frontal offset and side impact crash tests.

ANCAP scores vehicles from zero to five stars depending on the safety features and protection of the driver and passengers.

The two-door Jumbuck performed dismally in the 64 km/h offset crash test, which saw the ute's cabin severely deformed. The crash test showed the Jumbuck offers poor head protection for the driver and passenger, and poor leg protection for the driver.

The Jumbuck also lacks airbags, ABS, and electronic stability control (a feature that senses skidding and individually brakes the wheels, helping the driver to regain control).

Also, the two-door Chinese manufactured Great Wall Motors SA220 ($22,000) was given a lowly two-star rating, with findings that its protection for the driver was poor and its passenger compartment buckled in a frontal offset crash test. The results showed the SA220 offers minimal protection for the driver's head, chest, and legs, and has "minimal safety features" overall. The SA220 also has no front or side-mounted airbags, no ABS, and no electronic stability control.

While Great Wall Motors' larger four-door model has dual front airbags and ABS brakes, it also only attained a two-star rating. Both airbags of the V240 ($27,000) deployed in the frontal offset crash test but didn't prevent head damage to the driver and passenger. The passenger's seat belt failed on one occasion and protection for the driver's head and legs was rated as poor.

These three models are sold in New Zealand.

Hamish Wilson from Consumer NZ says potential buyers should steer clear of these utes.

"With advances in vehicle design and safety features, we think it's unacceptable for a manufacturer to make vehicles that crash test so badly, let alone sell them in New Zealand."

"We don't believe these vehicles should be allowed on the road because it undoes all the good work from the government and responsible makers in developing and promoting safer vehicles."

"The minimum standard for a new ute should be four stars. The Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton, and several Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore utes have achieved this standard, some of them as far back as 2000. There's no reason, other than cutting corners to cut costs, that these standards shouldn't be achieved."

Wilson says the difference in safety between a two-star and a four-star ute is significant.

"A four-star ute generally has front and side airbags that protect the head, and a much stronger passenger compartment that stays intact in a crash. This reduces the risk of head, chest and leg injuries. It can mean the difference between walking away from a crash and being taken away in an ambulance."

The New Zealand Transport Agency publishes the ANCAP test results on its website and encourages prospective car buyers to study these before committing to a purchase. You can check out the test results at www.ltsa.govt.nz/vehicles/ancap.

Contact: Hamish Wilson
Testing Manager
Consumer NZ
hamish@consumer.org.nz
04 801 0412

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