Electric models’ crash test performances assessed by ANCAP.

AUSTRALASIA’S crash test safety auditor has found the largest electric passenger product from China sold in New Zealand to be a solid choice, but determined an impending Fiat set to be among the smallest EVs here to be wanting.

Announcing its latest round of scores, the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme – which receives funding from the NZ Government and other national agencies and stands as the nationally-accredited crash test authority – has determined the LDV Mifa 9 (above), a big seven-seater just released here, is worthy of its top rating, a five star score, but has also decided the Fiat 500e (below), a new electric version of the brand’s famous small city hatchback, earns four stars.

MIFA 9 scored maximum points for protection of the driver and small female rear passenger in the full-width frontal test. It’s the only model aside from the Mercedes-Benz C-Class to have achieved a maximum score in this test to current criteria.

A positive result was also recorded for the MPV’s vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility, with only a minimal penalty applied given its favourable front-end design, which reduces potential injury to occupants of other vehicles.

The Child Occupant Protection score was also high, at 88 percent, however ANCAP says consumers are advised that child restraints for younger children should not be fitted to the third row centre or right-hand-side seating positions as there are no top-tether anchorages fitted to these seating positions. A high score of 90 percent was achieved for its collision avoidance capability in the Safety Assist assessment area. 

The Fiat 500e’s rating is specific to New Zealand. The four star result came from how it performed in three of the four key assessment areas.

ANCAP says the 500e scored 78 percent for Adult Occupant Protection, 79 percent for Child Occupant Protection and 67 percent for Safety Assist. Respective minimum scores of 80 percent, 80 percent and 70 percent  are required to meet five stars.

Marginal performance was noted for protection of the driver’s chest in the frontal offset test and the driver and rear passenger’s chest in the full-width frontal test. With no centre airbag fitted, excursion (movement across the vehicle cabin) was high in the far-side oblique pole test, with a significant risk of the head contacting the intruding door.

Petrol-powered variants of the BMW X1 were also awarded five stars with respectable scores across all four key areas of assessment. The fully electric iX1 that is due to come on sale in NZ soon remains unrated.

With the BMW, weak performance was noted for the protection of the driver’s chest in the frontal offset test, and it was given a marginal score for the chest of the rear passenger in a full-width test.

The X1’s ability to prevent collisions with pedestrians and cyclists thanks to its autonomous emergency braking system was marked good.