Latest Ford’s safety provision earns a five star result from ANCAP.

THE independent organisation that sorts passenger car safety ratings for cars sold here has given a Ford sports utility about to come on sale here a top score.

The five star rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme, which is funded by the New Zealand Government and the Automobile Association, results from determination of how the Escape performed in a test conducted last year by NCAP in Europe, where the model is sold as the Kuga.

It achieved full points from the Euro NCAP regime in both the side barrier and the more severe side pole impact tests.

The five-seater’s structure utilises high-strength steel throughout the skeleton and intelligent designs to improve impact protection, including ultra-high-strength 3D-rolled steel tubes incorporated into each A-pillar and along the rooflines.

Escape also has Driver Assist Technology across the range offered to New Zealand. That means AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, evasive steering assist, and emergency assist.

The local market rating only applies to the petrol-powered variants coming on sale now and not the plug-in hybrid coming next year. ANCAP has made a point of saying the PHEV car remains unrated.

ANCAP gave the Escape strong scores in all four of its testing categories: Adult Occupant Protection (92 percent), Child Occupant Protection (89 percent), Vulnerable Road User Protection (82 percent) and Safety Assist (77 percent).