ANCAP – Kia Picanto Scores 4-Star Safety Rating | 5-Stars For Mazda CX-5 And C-Class Cabriolet

Kia’s 2017 Picanto city car has fallen one short of the maximum 5-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

The previous generation Picanto scored the maximum 5-stars from ANCAP when it was assessed under 2013 guidelines, but an audit last year from a separate test in Indonesia showed the result wasn’t as strong as first believed.

Nevertheless, the Picanto retained its 5-star rating, but tougher 2017 testing rules has seen the all-new model step down to 4-stars.

“It is very encouraging to see an affordable, small car offering AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) City and AEB Interurban as standard, and Kia should be congratulated for taking this initiative,” ANCAP CEO, James Goodwin, said.

“The Picanto is however limited to 4-stars due to lower scores in the Pedestrian Protection and Child Occupant Protection areas of assessment.”

ANCAP’s sister program, Euro NCAP, scored the Picanto 87 percent on adult occupant protection, but child occupant protection was rated at a lesser 64 percent.

The Picanto also lost points for safety-assist devices at 47 percent, while pedestrian safety was scored at 54 percent.

The 4-star rating applies to Picanto models sold in Australia from June of this year, and to models sold in New Zealand from May.

Mazda