Latest news with #ANCAP
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2025 Subaru Crosstrek and Impreza get safety upgrades, price rises
The Subaru Crosstrek and Impreza have been given price rises accompanied by safety upgrades for model year 2025 (MY25), the latter enabling them to receive five-star ratings from safety authority ANCAP. The Crosstrek small SUV – Subaru Australia's second-best selling model after the Forester SUV – and related Impreza hatchback have been given the same updates and $500 price rises across their lineups. It means the entry-level Crosstrek L starts at $35,990 before on-road costs and Crosstrek Hybrid L from $39,590, with the base Impreza L at $31,990 before on-road costs. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Impreza hatch – which isn't offered with a hybrid powertrain locally – remains more expensive than the Toyota Corolla, though the Crosstrek still undercuts the most affordable all-wheel drive versions of the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross. Traffic sign recognition has been added to the existing speed sign recognition system, enabling it to read signs such as 'Stop', 'No Entry', and 'Give Way'. With ANCAP introducing a 'submergence test' – evaluating the occupants' ability to escape a vehicle under water – in 2023, the 2025 model year Crosstrek and Impreza also get an Emergency Evacuation Glass-breaking Tool – essentially a glass-piercing hammer located in the vehicle's glovebox. An updated five-star ANCAP safety rating for the MY25 Crosstrek and Impreza is applicable to vehicles manufactured from April 2025 and in Subaru dealers from June. ANCAP used shared crash-test results for both Crosstrek and Impreza – given they are closely related, using essentially the same body, platform and powertrains. The Crosstrek received an adult occupant protection rating of 83 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 91 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 85 per cent and a safety assist rating of 73 per cent. It achieved a higher vulnerable road user protection score of 85 per cent as it showed superior upper leg (femur) protection than the Impreza. The Impreza scored better for pedestrian head and lower leg protection which the safety organisation said was due to the difference in bonnet and front bumper designs. In addition to more safety kit, there have been some other specification tweaks made to the Crosstrek. The Crosstrek Hybrid has received a petrol particulate filter in order to comply with Euro 6e emissions standards, outpacing the introduction of Australian requirements to meet less stringent Euro 6d standards from December 1, 2024. Outputs have been reduced marginally in the Crosstrek Hybrid – offered in L and S model grades – from 110kW/196Nm to 100kW/182Nm, but with the same 6.5L/100km combined official fuel consumption. The 115kW/196Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and continuously variable transmission used on the petrol-only Crosstrek and across all Impreza model grades remains unchanged. The 2025 model year update brings no other equipment changes to either vehicle, the current generation of both having been introduced in Australia in 2023. MORE: Everything Subaru Crosstrek • Impreza Content originally sourced from: The Subaru Crosstrek and Impreza have been given price rises accompanied by safety upgrades for model year 2025 (MY25), the latter enabling them to receive five-star ratings from safety authority ANCAP. The Crosstrek small SUV – Subaru Australia's second-best selling model after the Forester SUV – and related Impreza hatchback have been given the same updates and $500 price rises across their lineups. It means the entry-level Crosstrek L starts at $35,990 before on-road costs and Crosstrek Hybrid L from $39,590, with the base Impreza L at $31,990 before on-road costs. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Impreza hatch – which isn't offered with a hybrid powertrain locally – remains more expensive than the Toyota Corolla, though the Crosstrek still undercuts the most affordable all-wheel drive versions of the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross. Traffic sign recognition has been added to the existing speed sign recognition system, enabling it to read signs such as 'Stop', 'No Entry', and 'Give Way'. With ANCAP introducing a 'submergence test' – evaluating the occupants' ability to escape a vehicle under water – in 2023, the 2025 model year Crosstrek and Impreza also get an Emergency Evacuation Glass-breaking Tool – essentially a glass-piercing hammer located in the vehicle's glovebox. An updated five-star ANCAP safety rating for the MY25 Crosstrek and Impreza is applicable to vehicles manufactured from April 2025 and in Subaru dealers from June. ANCAP used shared crash-test results for both Crosstrek and Impreza – given they are closely related, using essentially the same body, platform and powertrains. The Crosstrek received an adult occupant protection rating of 83 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 91 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 85 per cent and a safety assist rating of 73 per cent. It achieved a higher vulnerable road user protection score of 85 per cent as it showed superior upper leg (femur) protection than the Impreza. The Impreza scored better for pedestrian head and lower leg protection which the safety organisation said was due to the difference in bonnet and front bumper designs. In addition to more safety kit, there have been some other specification tweaks made to the Crosstrek. The Crosstrek Hybrid has received a petrol particulate filter in order to comply with Euro 6e emissions standards, outpacing the introduction of Australian requirements to meet less stringent Euro 6d standards from December 1, 2024. Outputs have been reduced marginally in the Crosstrek Hybrid – offered in L and S model grades – from 110kW/196Nm to 100kW/182Nm, but with the same 6.5L/100km combined official fuel consumption. The 115kW/196Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and continuously variable transmission used on the petrol-only Crosstrek and across all Impreza model grades remains unchanged. The 2025 model year update brings no other equipment changes to either vehicle, the current generation of both having been introduced in Australia in 2023. MORE: Everything Subaru Crosstrek • Impreza Content originally sourced from: The Subaru Crosstrek and Impreza have been given price rises accompanied by safety upgrades for model year 2025 (MY25), the latter enabling them to receive five-star ratings from safety authority ANCAP. The Crosstrek small SUV – Subaru Australia's second-best selling model after the Forester SUV – and related Impreza hatchback have been given the same updates and $500 price rises across their lineups. It means the entry-level Crosstrek L starts at $35,990 before on-road costs and Crosstrek Hybrid L from $39,590, with the base Impreza L at $31,990 before on-road costs. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Impreza hatch – which isn't offered with a hybrid powertrain locally – remains more expensive than the Toyota Corolla, though the Crosstrek still undercuts the most affordable all-wheel drive versions of the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross. Traffic sign recognition has been added to the existing speed sign recognition system, enabling it to read signs such as 'Stop', 'No Entry', and 'Give Way'. With ANCAP introducing a 'submergence test' – evaluating the occupants' ability to escape a vehicle under water – in 2023, the 2025 model year Crosstrek and Impreza also get an Emergency Evacuation Glass-breaking Tool – essentially a glass-piercing hammer located in the vehicle's glovebox. An updated five-star ANCAP safety rating for the MY25 Crosstrek and Impreza is applicable to vehicles manufactured from April 2025 and in Subaru dealers from June. ANCAP used shared crash-test results for both Crosstrek and Impreza – given they are closely related, using essentially the same body, platform and powertrains. The Crosstrek received an adult occupant protection rating of 83 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 91 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 85 per cent and a safety assist rating of 73 per cent. It achieved a higher vulnerable road user protection score of 85 per cent as it showed superior upper leg (femur) protection than the Impreza. The Impreza scored better for pedestrian head and lower leg protection which the safety organisation said was due to the difference in bonnet and front bumper designs. In addition to more safety kit, there have been some other specification tweaks made to the Crosstrek. The Crosstrek Hybrid has received a petrol particulate filter in order to comply with Euro 6e emissions standards, outpacing the introduction of Australian requirements to meet less stringent Euro 6d standards from December 1, 2024. Outputs have been reduced marginally in the Crosstrek Hybrid – offered in L and S model grades – from 110kW/196Nm to 100kW/182Nm, but with the same 6.5L/100km combined official fuel consumption. The 115kW/196Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and continuously variable transmission used on the petrol-only Crosstrek and across all Impreza model grades remains unchanged. The 2025 model year update brings no other equipment changes to either vehicle, the current generation of both having been introduced in Australia in 2023. MORE: Everything Subaru Crosstrek • Impreza Content originally sourced from: The Subaru Crosstrek and Impreza have been given price rises accompanied by safety upgrades for model year 2025 (MY25), the latter enabling them to receive five-star ratings from safety authority ANCAP. The Crosstrek small SUV – Subaru Australia's second-best selling model after the Forester SUV – and related Impreza hatchback have been given the same updates and $500 price rises across their lineups. It means the entry-level Crosstrek L starts at $35,990 before on-road costs and Crosstrek Hybrid L from $39,590, with the base Impreza L at $31,990 before on-road costs. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Impreza hatch – which isn't offered with a hybrid powertrain locally – remains more expensive than the Toyota Corolla, though the Crosstrek still undercuts the most affordable all-wheel drive versions of the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross. Traffic sign recognition has been added to the existing speed sign recognition system, enabling it to read signs such as 'Stop', 'No Entry', and 'Give Way'. With ANCAP introducing a 'submergence test' – evaluating the occupants' ability to escape a vehicle under water – in 2023, the 2025 model year Crosstrek and Impreza also get an Emergency Evacuation Glass-breaking Tool – essentially a glass-piercing hammer located in the vehicle's glovebox. An updated five-star ANCAP safety rating for the MY25 Crosstrek and Impreza is applicable to vehicles manufactured from April 2025 and in Subaru dealers from June. ANCAP used shared crash-test results for both Crosstrek and Impreza – given they are closely related, using essentially the same body, platform and powertrains. The Crosstrek received an adult occupant protection rating of 83 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 91 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 85 per cent and a safety assist rating of 73 per cent. It achieved a higher vulnerable road user protection score of 85 per cent as it showed superior upper leg (femur) protection than the Impreza. The Impreza scored better for pedestrian head and lower leg protection which the safety organisation said was due to the difference in bonnet and front bumper designs. In addition to more safety kit, there have been some other specification tweaks made to the Crosstrek. The Crosstrek Hybrid has received a petrol particulate filter in order to comply with Euro 6e emissions standards, outpacing the introduction of Australian requirements to meet less stringent Euro 6d standards from December 1, 2024. Outputs have been reduced marginally in the Crosstrek Hybrid – offered in L and S model grades – from 110kW/196Nm to 100kW/182Nm, but with the same 6.5L/100km combined official fuel consumption. The 115kW/196Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and continuously variable transmission used on the petrol-only Crosstrek and across all Impreza model grades remains unchanged. The 2025 model year update brings no other equipment changes to either vehicle, the current generation of both having been introduced in Australia in 2023. MORE: Everything Subaru Crosstrek • Impreza Content originally sourced from:
NZ Autocar
4 days ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
New models continue Subaru's unblemished safety record
The Subaru Crosstrek and closely-related Subaru Impreza have both received five-star ANCAP safety ratings following their MY25 safety updates. These scores apply to Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles built from April 2025 and on sale from June 2025. Because this pair is so similar under the skin, shared test results were used to determine the safety ratings for these models. Collision avoidance performance tests were conducted on the Subaru Crosstrek together with the full-width frontal, oblique pole and side impact tests. Meantime, frontal offset (MPDB) testings was conducted on the Subaru Impreza. The Impreza also underwent its own side impact and pedestrian tests to confirm comparable performance. Read out review of Subaru Crosstrek here. For Adult Occupant Protection both models achieved an 83 per cent result. They offered Good levels of protection for the driver in the full width frontal, side impact and oblique tests. Here, full points were scored. Front passenger protection in the frontal offset test was also deemed Good. A centre airbag between the front seats resulted in mixed performance following side impact crashes. Both models achieved 91 per cent crash test results for Child Occupant Protection. They scored maximum points in the two crash tests that featured the six- and ten-year-old child dummies. Similar results were recorded for Vulnerable Road User Protection (Crosstrek 85%; Impreza 84%). In physical impact tests, the bonnet and windscreen of both models provided Good protection to the head of a struck pedestrian. But Poor results were noted on the stiff windscreen pillars. Both models have the ability to detect and automatically avoid or reduce the severity of a crash with pedestrians and cyclists. Safety Assist systems garnered a 73 per cent result for both models. Each is fitted with Subaru's EyeSight technology. So they offer AEB, lane keep assist, emergency lane keeping, speed assistance systems, and a direct driver monitoring system. The Impreza offered slightly better head and lower leg protection for pedestrians than the Crosstrek. But femur protection provided by the Crosstrek was superior to that of the Impreza, giving it a slightly higher Vulnerable Road User Protection score.
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
MG Australia cuts back 2025 MG 5 range
The 2025 MG 5 will be offered in a single, more expensive model grade following the introduction of key safety technologies which helped it score a higher three-star ANCAP safety rating earlier this month. For the 2025 model year, the MG 5 small sedan will be sold exclusively in Essence trim, with the previous entry-level Vibe variant now dropped from the lineup. That increases the MG 5's admission price to $32,990 drive-away, which is up by more than $8000 following the discontinuation of the previous Vibe at $24,888 drive-away, and a $4000 price hike for the Essence, which was previously priced at $28,990 drive-away. Hundred of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. As a result, the simplified single-variant MG 5 range is now positioned much more closely to small sedans from Korea and Japan, including the Hyundai i30 (from $29,000 before on-road costs), Kia K4 (from $30,590 plus on-roads), Mazda 3 sedan (from $31,310 plus on-roads) and Toyota Corolla (from $32,320 plus on-roads). New safety functions for the 2025 MG 5 Essence include lane keep assist, emergency lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and intelligent cruise assist. Seatbelt pretensioners for all five seats including a three-point centre rear seatbelt, plus a seatbelt warning and reminder have also been added, along with whiplash-resistant front and rear seats. The safety updates bring the MG 5 Essence a fresh three-star ANCAP safety rating dated June 2025. In August 2023, the MG 5 was one of three models to receive a shock zero-star rating from the safety body, the others being the Mahindra Scorpio large SUV and the no-longer-on-sale Mitsubishi Express van. MG Australia has confirmed there are no other equipment changes for the 2025 MG 5 Essence over the previous 2024 version. It continues with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 199kW of power and 250Nm of torque, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and claimed combined fuel economy of 6.4L/100km. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with push-button start, synthetic leather seat trim, a 360-degree camera, six-speaker audio and a glass sunroof. In addition to the safety upgrades, the MG 5's driver assist tech suite includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a 'Sport' tuned stability control system, and active corner braking control. MG offers one of Australia's longest new-car warranties, at 10 years or 250,000km. MORE: Everything MG 5 Content originally sourced from: The 2025 MG 5 will be offered in a single, more expensive model grade following the introduction of key safety technologies which helped it score a higher three-star ANCAP safety rating earlier this month. For the 2025 model year, the MG 5 small sedan will be sold exclusively in Essence trim, with the previous entry-level Vibe variant now dropped from the lineup. That increases the MG 5's admission price to $32,990 drive-away, which is up by more than $8000 following the discontinuation of the previous Vibe at $24,888 drive-away, and a $4000 price hike for the Essence, which was previously priced at $28,990 drive-away. Hundred of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. As a result, the simplified single-variant MG 5 range is now positioned much more closely to small sedans from Korea and Japan, including the Hyundai i30 (from $29,000 before on-road costs), Kia K4 (from $30,590 plus on-roads), Mazda 3 sedan (from $31,310 plus on-roads) and Toyota Corolla (from $32,320 plus on-roads). New safety functions for the 2025 MG 5 Essence include lane keep assist, emergency lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and intelligent cruise assist. Seatbelt pretensioners for all five seats including a three-point centre rear seatbelt, plus a seatbelt warning and reminder have also been added, along with whiplash-resistant front and rear seats. The safety updates bring the MG 5 Essence a fresh three-star ANCAP safety rating dated June 2025. In August 2023, the MG 5 was one of three models to receive a shock zero-star rating from the safety body, the others being the Mahindra Scorpio large SUV and the no-longer-on-sale Mitsubishi Express van. MG Australia has confirmed there are no other equipment changes for the 2025 MG 5 Essence over the previous 2024 version. It continues with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 199kW of power and 250Nm of torque, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and claimed combined fuel economy of 6.4L/100km. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with push-button start, synthetic leather seat trim, a 360-degree camera, six-speaker audio and a glass sunroof. In addition to the safety upgrades, the MG 5's driver assist tech suite includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a 'Sport' tuned stability control system, and active corner braking control. MG offers one of Australia's longest new-car warranties, at 10 years or 250,000km. MORE: Everything MG 5 Content originally sourced from: The 2025 MG 5 will be offered in a single, more expensive model grade following the introduction of key safety technologies which helped it score a higher three-star ANCAP safety rating earlier this month. For the 2025 model year, the MG 5 small sedan will be sold exclusively in Essence trim, with the previous entry-level Vibe variant now dropped from the lineup. That increases the MG 5's admission price to $32,990 drive-away, which is up by more than $8000 following the discontinuation of the previous Vibe at $24,888 drive-away, and a $4000 price hike for the Essence, which was previously priced at $28,990 drive-away. Hundred of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. As a result, the simplified single-variant MG 5 range is now positioned much more closely to small sedans from Korea and Japan, including the Hyundai i30 (from $29,000 before on-road costs), Kia K4 (from $30,590 plus on-roads), Mazda 3 sedan (from $31,310 plus on-roads) and Toyota Corolla (from $32,320 plus on-roads). New safety functions for the 2025 MG 5 Essence include lane keep assist, emergency lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and intelligent cruise assist. Seatbelt pretensioners for all five seats including a three-point centre rear seatbelt, plus a seatbelt warning and reminder have also been added, along with whiplash-resistant front and rear seats. The safety updates bring the MG 5 Essence a fresh three-star ANCAP safety rating dated June 2025. In August 2023, the MG 5 was one of three models to receive a shock zero-star rating from the safety body, the others being the Mahindra Scorpio large SUV and the no-longer-on-sale Mitsubishi Express van. MG Australia has confirmed there are no other equipment changes for the 2025 MG 5 Essence over the previous 2024 version. It continues with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 199kW of power and 250Nm of torque, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and claimed combined fuel economy of 6.4L/100km. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with push-button start, synthetic leather seat trim, a 360-degree camera, six-speaker audio and a glass sunroof. In addition to the safety upgrades, the MG 5's driver assist tech suite includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a 'Sport' tuned stability control system, and active corner braking control. MG offers one of Australia's longest new-car warranties, at 10 years or 250,000km. MORE: Everything MG 5 Content originally sourced from: The 2025 MG 5 will be offered in a single, more expensive model grade following the introduction of key safety technologies which helped it score a higher three-star ANCAP safety rating earlier this month. For the 2025 model year, the MG 5 small sedan will be sold exclusively in Essence trim, with the previous entry-level Vibe variant now dropped from the lineup. That increases the MG 5's admission price to $32,990 drive-away, which is up by more than $8000 following the discontinuation of the previous Vibe at $24,888 drive-away, and a $4000 price hike for the Essence, which was previously priced at $28,990 drive-away. Hundred of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. As a result, the simplified single-variant MG 5 range is now positioned much more closely to small sedans from Korea and Japan, including the Hyundai i30 (from $29,000 before on-road costs), Kia K4 (from $30,590 plus on-roads), Mazda 3 sedan (from $31,310 plus on-roads) and Toyota Corolla (from $32,320 plus on-roads). New safety functions for the 2025 MG 5 Essence include lane keep assist, emergency lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and intelligent cruise assist. Seatbelt pretensioners for all five seats including a three-point centre rear seatbelt, plus a seatbelt warning and reminder have also been added, along with whiplash-resistant front and rear seats. The safety updates bring the MG 5 Essence a fresh three-star ANCAP safety rating dated June 2025. In August 2023, the MG 5 was one of three models to receive a shock zero-star rating from the safety body, the others being the Mahindra Scorpio large SUV and the no-longer-on-sale Mitsubishi Express van. MG Australia has confirmed there are no other equipment changes for the 2025 MG 5 Essence over the previous 2024 version. It continues with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 199kW of power and 250Nm of torque, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and claimed combined fuel economy of 6.4L/100km. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with push-button start, synthetic leather seat trim, a 360-degree camera, six-speaker audio and a glass sunroof. In addition to the safety upgrades, the MG 5's driver assist tech suite includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a 'Sport' tuned stability control system, and active corner braking control. MG offers one of Australia's longest new-car warranties, at 10 years or 250,000km. MORE: Everything MG 5 Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2025 Mahindra XUV 3XO will have five-star safety for ‘the real world', not ANCAP
Mahindra says its imminent new XUV 3XO small SUV will meet all of the crash requirements to keep its occupants safe in the real world, but it has not been tuned to ANCAP's specific requirements. Having ran afoul of ANCAP's safety assessment standards with its vehicles in the past, notably for reasons such as crushing the barrier in which the Mahindra Scorpio crashed into (in other words, being too safe for its own occupants and not prioritising other vehicles on the road), the 3XO is likely to suffer a similar fate if ANCAP performs its own tests. With the XUV 3XO already having scored 29.36 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 43/49 for child occupant protection in local NCAP testing, and the fact Mahindra expects it to achieve similar results in Global NCAP testing, the Indian automaker is no doubt looking to establish the small SUV's real-world safety credentials regardless of whether it falls short of ANCAP's box-ticking requirements. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Last week, Mahindra demonstrated a crash test of the upcoming 3XO to Australian media at its newly developed crash testing facility at Chennai in India, to showcase the vehicle's structural rigidity and real-world crashworthiness. This test was conducted to 2026 ANCAP protocols with a moving barrier. According to the company, the 3XO is composed of 30 per cent high-strength steel, 10 per cent ultra-high-strength steel and five per cent advanced high-strength steel. The rest of the vehicle is cast in mild steel. As a comparison, the current generation Nissan X-Trail is made up of around 35 per cent high-strength steel. "In the real world, this is a five-star car," said a Mahindra spokesperson after the 3XO crash test. "You can immediately see the structure is intact. The most important thing is the structure, so you don't see any deformation inside the cage. And the occupants are intact. The airbags are intact." Responding to CarExpert about whether the brand has a desire to develop cars to meet ANCAP requirements, the Mahindra's president of Automotive Technology & Product Development, Velusamy R, said the company is more focused on developing cars to meet actual crash requirements rather than ticking boxes. "I'm not very sure we are struggling on safety, but I would say we may be struggling to meet one of the regulations of the safety [for ANCAP]," Velusamy R said. Mahindra says the 3XO has been designed for the following set of tests: Vehicles coming to Australia will be fitted with Level 2 advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), including: The Mahindra XUV 3XO is set to land in Australia in the coming weeks to compete against the likes of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and other popular small SUVs. Although Mahindra will not voluntarily submit an example of the vehicle for ANCAP testing, given the high sales volumes in the small SUV segment there is a good chance the XUV 3XO will be tested by ANCAP regardless. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from: Mahindra says its imminent new XUV 3XO small SUV will meet all of the crash requirements to keep its occupants safe in the real world, but it has not been tuned to ANCAP's specific requirements. Having ran afoul of ANCAP's safety assessment standards with its vehicles in the past, notably for reasons such as crushing the barrier in which the Mahindra Scorpio crashed into (in other words, being too safe for its own occupants and not prioritising other vehicles on the road), the 3XO is likely to suffer a similar fate if ANCAP performs its own tests. With the XUV 3XO already having scored 29.36 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 43/49 for child occupant protection in local NCAP testing, and the fact Mahindra expects it to achieve similar results in Global NCAP testing, the Indian automaker is no doubt looking to establish the small SUV's real-world safety credentials regardless of whether it falls short of ANCAP's box-ticking requirements. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Last week, Mahindra demonstrated a crash test of the upcoming 3XO to Australian media at its newly developed crash testing facility at Chennai in India, to showcase the vehicle's structural rigidity and real-world crashworthiness. This test was conducted to 2026 ANCAP protocols with a moving barrier. According to the company, the 3XO is composed of 30 per cent high-strength steel, 10 per cent ultra-high-strength steel and five per cent advanced high-strength steel. The rest of the vehicle is cast in mild steel. As a comparison, the current generation Nissan X-Trail is made up of around 35 per cent high-strength steel. "In the real world, this is a five-star car," said a Mahindra spokesperson after the 3XO crash test. "You can immediately see the structure is intact. The most important thing is the structure, so you don't see any deformation inside the cage. And the occupants are intact. The airbags are intact." Responding to CarExpert about whether the brand has a desire to develop cars to meet ANCAP requirements, the Mahindra's president of Automotive Technology & Product Development, Velusamy R, said the company is more focused on developing cars to meet actual crash requirements rather than ticking boxes. "I'm not very sure we are struggling on safety, but I would say we may be struggling to meet one of the regulations of the safety [for ANCAP]," Velusamy R said. Mahindra says the 3XO has been designed for the following set of tests: Vehicles coming to Australia will be fitted with Level 2 advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), including: The Mahindra XUV 3XO is set to land in Australia in the coming weeks to compete against the likes of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and other popular small SUVs. Although Mahindra will not voluntarily submit an example of the vehicle for ANCAP testing, given the high sales volumes in the small SUV segment there is a good chance the XUV 3XO will be tested by ANCAP regardless. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from: Mahindra says its imminent new XUV 3XO small SUV will meet all of the crash requirements to keep its occupants safe in the real world, but it has not been tuned to ANCAP's specific requirements. Having ran afoul of ANCAP's safety assessment standards with its vehicles in the past, notably for reasons such as crushing the barrier in which the Mahindra Scorpio crashed into (in other words, being too safe for its own occupants and not prioritising other vehicles on the road), the 3XO is likely to suffer a similar fate if ANCAP performs its own tests. With the XUV 3XO already having scored 29.36 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 43/49 for child occupant protection in local NCAP testing, and the fact Mahindra expects it to achieve similar results in Global NCAP testing, the Indian automaker is no doubt looking to establish the small SUV's real-world safety credentials regardless of whether it falls short of ANCAP's box-ticking requirements. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Last week, Mahindra demonstrated a crash test of the upcoming 3XO to Australian media at its newly developed crash testing facility at Chennai in India, to showcase the vehicle's structural rigidity and real-world crashworthiness. This test was conducted to 2026 ANCAP protocols with a moving barrier. According to the company, the 3XO is composed of 30 per cent high-strength steel, 10 per cent ultra-high-strength steel and five per cent advanced high-strength steel. The rest of the vehicle is cast in mild steel. As a comparison, the current generation Nissan X-Trail is made up of around 35 per cent high-strength steel. "In the real world, this is a five-star car," said a Mahindra spokesperson after the 3XO crash test. "You can immediately see the structure is intact. The most important thing is the structure, so you don't see any deformation inside the cage. And the occupants are intact. The airbags are intact." Responding to CarExpert about whether the brand has a desire to develop cars to meet ANCAP requirements, the Mahindra's president of Automotive Technology & Product Development, Velusamy R, said the company is more focused on developing cars to meet actual crash requirements rather than ticking boxes. "I'm not very sure we are struggling on safety, but I would say we may be struggling to meet one of the regulations of the safety [for ANCAP]," Velusamy R said. Mahindra says the 3XO has been designed for the following set of tests: Vehicles coming to Australia will be fitted with Level 2 advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), including: The Mahindra XUV 3XO is set to land in Australia in the coming weeks to compete against the likes of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and other popular small SUVs. Although Mahindra will not voluntarily submit an example of the vehicle for ANCAP testing, given the high sales volumes in the small SUV segment there is a good chance the XUV 3XO will be tested by ANCAP regardless. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from: Mahindra says its imminent new XUV 3XO small SUV will meet all of the crash requirements to keep its occupants safe in the real world, but it has not been tuned to ANCAP's specific requirements. Having ran afoul of ANCAP's safety assessment standards with its vehicles in the past, notably for reasons such as crushing the barrier in which the Mahindra Scorpio crashed into (in other words, being too safe for its own occupants and not prioritising other vehicles on the road), the 3XO is likely to suffer a similar fate if ANCAP performs its own tests. With the XUV 3XO already having scored 29.36 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 43/49 for child occupant protection in local NCAP testing, and the fact Mahindra expects it to achieve similar results in Global NCAP testing, the Indian automaker is no doubt looking to establish the small SUV's real-world safety credentials regardless of whether it falls short of ANCAP's box-ticking requirements. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Last week, Mahindra demonstrated a crash test of the upcoming 3XO to Australian media at its newly developed crash testing facility at Chennai in India, to showcase the vehicle's structural rigidity and real-world crashworthiness. This test was conducted to 2026 ANCAP protocols with a moving barrier. According to the company, the 3XO is composed of 30 per cent high-strength steel, 10 per cent ultra-high-strength steel and five per cent advanced high-strength steel. The rest of the vehicle is cast in mild steel. As a comparison, the current generation Nissan X-Trail is made up of around 35 per cent high-strength steel. "In the real world, this is a five-star car," said a Mahindra spokesperson after the 3XO crash test. "You can immediately see the structure is intact. The most important thing is the structure, so you don't see any deformation inside the cage. And the occupants are intact. The airbags are intact." Responding to CarExpert about whether the brand has a desire to develop cars to meet ANCAP requirements, the Mahindra's president of Automotive Technology & Product Development, Velusamy R, said the company is more focused on developing cars to meet actual crash requirements rather than ticking boxes. "I'm not very sure we are struggling on safety, but I would say we may be struggling to meet one of the regulations of the safety [for ANCAP]," Velusamy R said. Mahindra says the 3XO has been designed for the following set of tests: Vehicles coming to Australia will be fitted with Level 2 advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), including: The Mahindra XUV 3XO is set to land in Australia in the coming weeks to compete against the likes of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and other popular small SUVs. Although Mahindra will not voluntarily submit an example of the vehicle for ANCAP testing, given the high sales volumes in the small SUV segment there is a good chance the XUV 3XO will be tested by ANCAP regardless. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
BYD Seagull could become Australia's cheapest EV after strategy switch
The BYD Seagull could become Australia's most affordable electric vehicle (EV) – although it may come with a four-star ANCAP safety rating – after the Chinese brand told CarExpert the pint-size hatch could make its way here. BYD will take over distribution of the brand in Australia from independent importer EVDirect on July 1, 2025, and now the previously ruled out Seagull is back in contention to join the local lineup. Already produced in right-hand drive for the UK – where it will be badged as the 'Dolphin Surf' – the Seagull is slightly bigger than the Kia Picanto and the discontinued Volkswagen Up micro-cars, but smaller than the Mazda 2 light hatch While BYD makes many of its models in both hybrid and battery-electric form, the Seagull is electric-only and uses a 55kW motor to drive the front wheels, and offers a range of up to 507km (CLTC) from its two battery sizes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Because it's smaller than the Dolphin electric hatch – currently the cheapest EV in local showrooms at $29,990 drive-away – the Seagull would have to be even cheaper, making it a prime candidate to become the brand's new price-leader. In January 2025, EVDirect boss Luke Todd told CarExpert the Seagull would only make sense if it had a five-star ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) rating and was priced around $25,000 or less. Now, with the Chinese car giant taking over local distribution – and a tech update coming in 2025 – the Seagull is back on the list for a local launch. "There would be room under the Dolphin and the Atto 2," BYD Australia Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert when asked about the Seagull's chances for Australia. That's despite the once-booming micro segment it would compete in now offering only two models – the Kia Picanto and the Fiat 500/500e – accounting for only 0.6 per cent (3130 vehicles) of total new car sales year-to-date. By comparison, Chinese-market sales of the Seagull were a staggering 61,131 in May 2025 alone, making it the brand's best-selling single model there. "If we look at the numbers of the micro segment, is there opportunity? Has the customer had a lot of choice?", Ms Hornstein added while speaking with CarExpert at a BYD driving event in China. The only electric contender in the micro segment right now is the Fiat 500e priced at $52,500 before on-road costs. The second hurdle – the lack of a five-star ANCAP safety rating – would rule the electric hatch out for many fleet and government customers, and could also turn off some private buyers. Every BYD currently sold in Australia – from the entry-level Dolphin to the Sealion 6 PHEV and the top-selling Shark 6 dual-cab ute – has a five-star ANCAP rating. Yet an early 2025 facelift added BYD's entry-level 'God's Eye C' system, bringing Lidar, camera and ultrasonic sensors to the Seagull and offording it with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection and even navigation-based route learning ability. The upgrades could bring a five-star ANCAP rating within reach – yet even a potential four-star rating may not be a deterrent in such a cost-conscious segment. The Fiat 500e has a four-star rating, while the petrol-powered Kia Picanto is currently 'Unrated' by ANCAP after its four-star safety rating from 2017 expired two years ago. The four-star Seagull would not be an outlier and – in fact – may lead the segment courtesy of its 'God's Eye' tech. "I think after driving it and seeing the reactions of everyone driving it in the last couple of days, I've almost been converted to see that there is an enormous amount of opportunity," Ms Hornstein said. "The amount of people that have said first-hand they would buy this car is so exciting to me, so I think what we can take back is that excitement and try and build a case for it to come into the range." Content originally sourced from: The BYD Seagull could become Australia's most affordable electric vehicle (EV) – although it may come with a four-star ANCAP safety rating – after the Chinese brand told CarExpert the pint-size hatch could make its way here. BYD will take over distribution of the brand in Australia from independent importer EVDirect on July 1, 2025, and now the previously ruled out Seagull is back in contention to join the local lineup. Already produced in right-hand drive for the UK – where it will be badged as the 'Dolphin Surf' – the Seagull is slightly bigger than the Kia Picanto and the discontinued Volkswagen Up micro-cars, but smaller than the Mazda 2 light hatch While BYD makes many of its models in both hybrid and battery-electric form, the Seagull is electric-only and uses a 55kW motor to drive the front wheels, and offers a range of up to 507km (CLTC) from its two battery sizes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Because it's smaller than the Dolphin electric hatch – currently the cheapest EV in local showrooms at $29,990 drive-away – the Seagull would have to be even cheaper, making it a prime candidate to become the brand's new price-leader. In January 2025, EVDirect boss Luke Todd told CarExpert the Seagull would only make sense if it had a five-star ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) rating and was priced around $25,000 or less. Now, with the Chinese car giant taking over local distribution – and a tech update coming in 2025 – the Seagull is back on the list for a local launch. "There would be room under the Dolphin and the Atto 2," BYD Australia Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert when asked about the Seagull's chances for Australia. That's despite the once-booming micro segment it would compete in now offering only two models – the Kia Picanto and the Fiat 500/500e – accounting for only 0.6 per cent (3130 vehicles) of total new car sales year-to-date. By comparison, Chinese-market sales of the Seagull were a staggering 61,131 in May 2025 alone, making it the brand's best-selling single model there. "If we look at the numbers of the micro segment, is there opportunity? Has the customer had a lot of choice?", Ms Hornstein added while speaking with CarExpert at a BYD driving event in China. The only electric contender in the micro segment right now is the Fiat 500e priced at $52,500 before on-road costs. The second hurdle – the lack of a five-star ANCAP safety rating – would rule the electric hatch out for many fleet and government customers, and could also turn off some private buyers. Every BYD currently sold in Australia – from the entry-level Dolphin to the Sealion 6 PHEV and the top-selling Shark 6 dual-cab ute – has a five-star ANCAP rating. Yet an early 2025 facelift added BYD's entry-level 'God's Eye C' system, bringing Lidar, camera and ultrasonic sensors to the Seagull and offording it with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection and even navigation-based route learning ability. The upgrades could bring a five-star ANCAP rating within reach – yet even a potential four-star rating may not be a deterrent in such a cost-conscious segment. The Fiat 500e has a four-star rating, while the petrol-powered Kia Picanto is currently 'Unrated' by ANCAP after its four-star safety rating from 2017 expired two years ago. The four-star Seagull would not be an outlier and – in fact – may lead the segment courtesy of its 'God's Eye' tech. "I think after driving it and seeing the reactions of everyone driving it in the last couple of days, I've almost been converted to see that there is an enormous amount of opportunity," Ms Hornstein said. "The amount of people that have said first-hand they would buy this car is so exciting to me, so I think what we can take back is that excitement and try and build a case for it to come into the range." Content originally sourced from: The BYD Seagull could become Australia's most affordable electric vehicle (EV) – although it may come with a four-star ANCAP safety rating – after the Chinese brand told CarExpert the pint-size hatch could make its way here. BYD will take over distribution of the brand in Australia from independent importer EVDirect on July 1, 2025, and now the previously ruled out Seagull is back in contention to join the local lineup. Already produced in right-hand drive for the UK – where it will be badged as the 'Dolphin Surf' – the Seagull is slightly bigger than the Kia Picanto and the discontinued Volkswagen Up micro-cars, but smaller than the Mazda 2 light hatch While BYD makes many of its models in both hybrid and battery-electric form, the Seagull is electric-only and uses a 55kW motor to drive the front wheels, and offers a range of up to 507km (CLTC) from its two battery sizes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Because it's smaller than the Dolphin electric hatch – currently the cheapest EV in local showrooms at $29,990 drive-away – the Seagull would have to be even cheaper, making it a prime candidate to become the brand's new price-leader. In January 2025, EVDirect boss Luke Todd told CarExpert the Seagull would only make sense if it had a five-star ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) rating and was priced around $25,000 or less. Now, with the Chinese car giant taking over local distribution – and a tech update coming in 2025 – the Seagull is back on the list for a local launch. "There would be room under the Dolphin and the Atto 2," BYD Australia Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert when asked about the Seagull's chances for Australia. That's despite the once-booming micro segment it would compete in now offering only two models – the Kia Picanto and the Fiat 500/500e – accounting for only 0.6 per cent (3130 vehicles) of total new car sales year-to-date. By comparison, Chinese-market sales of the Seagull were a staggering 61,131 in May 2025 alone, making it the brand's best-selling single model there. "If we look at the numbers of the micro segment, is there opportunity? Has the customer had a lot of choice?", Ms Hornstein added while speaking with CarExpert at a BYD driving event in China. The only electric contender in the micro segment right now is the Fiat 500e priced at $52,500 before on-road costs. The second hurdle – the lack of a five-star ANCAP safety rating – would rule the electric hatch out for many fleet and government customers, and could also turn off some private buyers. Every BYD currently sold in Australia – from the entry-level Dolphin to the Sealion 6 PHEV and the top-selling Shark 6 dual-cab ute – has a five-star ANCAP rating. Yet an early 2025 facelift added BYD's entry-level 'God's Eye C' system, bringing Lidar, camera and ultrasonic sensors to the Seagull and offording it with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection and even navigation-based route learning ability. The upgrades could bring a five-star ANCAP rating within reach – yet even a potential four-star rating may not be a deterrent in such a cost-conscious segment. The Fiat 500e has a four-star rating, while the petrol-powered Kia Picanto is currently 'Unrated' by ANCAP after its four-star safety rating from 2017 expired two years ago. The four-star Seagull would not be an outlier and – in fact – may lead the segment courtesy of its 'God's Eye' tech. "I think after driving it and seeing the reactions of everyone driving it in the last couple of days, I've almost been converted to see that there is an enormous amount of opportunity," Ms Hornstein said. "The amount of people that have said first-hand they would buy this car is so exciting to me, so I think what we can take back is that excitement and try and build a case for it to come into the range." Content originally sourced from: The BYD Seagull could become Australia's most affordable electric vehicle (EV) – although it may come with a four-star ANCAP safety rating – after the Chinese brand told CarExpert the pint-size hatch could make its way here. BYD will take over distribution of the brand in Australia from independent importer EVDirect on July 1, 2025, and now the previously ruled out Seagull is back in contention to join the local lineup. Already produced in right-hand drive for the UK – where it will be badged as the 'Dolphin Surf' – the Seagull is slightly bigger than the Kia Picanto and the discontinued Volkswagen Up micro-cars, but smaller than the Mazda 2 light hatch While BYD makes many of its models in both hybrid and battery-electric form, the Seagull is electric-only and uses a 55kW motor to drive the front wheels, and offers a range of up to 507km (CLTC) from its two battery sizes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Because it's smaller than the Dolphin electric hatch – currently the cheapest EV in local showrooms at $29,990 drive-away – the Seagull would have to be even cheaper, making it a prime candidate to become the brand's new price-leader. In January 2025, EVDirect boss Luke Todd told CarExpert the Seagull would only make sense if it had a five-star ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) rating and was priced around $25,000 or less. Now, with the Chinese car giant taking over local distribution – and a tech update coming in 2025 – the Seagull is back on the list for a local launch. "There would be room under the Dolphin and the Atto 2," BYD Australia Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert when asked about the Seagull's chances for Australia. That's despite the once-booming micro segment it would compete in now offering only two models – the Kia Picanto and the Fiat 500/500e – accounting for only 0.6 per cent (3130 vehicles) of total new car sales year-to-date. By comparison, Chinese-market sales of the Seagull were a staggering 61,131 in May 2025 alone, making it the brand's best-selling single model there. "If we look at the numbers of the micro segment, is there opportunity? Has the customer had a lot of choice?", Ms Hornstein added while speaking with CarExpert at a BYD driving event in China. The only electric contender in the micro segment right now is the Fiat 500e priced at $52,500 before on-road costs. The second hurdle – the lack of a five-star ANCAP safety rating – would rule the electric hatch out for many fleet and government customers, and could also turn off some private buyers. Every BYD currently sold in Australia – from the entry-level Dolphin to the Sealion 6 PHEV and the top-selling Shark 6 dual-cab ute – has a five-star ANCAP rating. Yet an early 2025 facelift added BYD's entry-level 'God's Eye C' system, bringing Lidar, camera and ultrasonic sensors to the Seagull and offording it with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection and even navigation-based route learning ability. The upgrades could bring a five-star ANCAP rating within reach – yet even a potential four-star rating may not be a deterrent in such a cost-conscious segment. The Fiat 500e has a four-star rating, while the petrol-powered Kia Picanto is currently 'Unrated' by ANCAP after its four-star safety rating from 2017 expired two years ago. The four-star Seagull would not be an outlier and – in fact – may lead the segment courtesy of its 'God's Eye' tech. "I think after driving it and seeing the reactions of everyone driving it in the last couple of days, I've almost been converted to see that there is an enormous amount of opportunity," Ms Hornstein said. "The amount of people that have said first-hand they would buy this car is so exciting to me, so I think what we can take back is that excitement and try and build a case for it to come into the range." Content originally sourced from:
