Suzuki gets four-star ANCAP safety rating for its first EV in Australia

The Suzuki e Vitara, the Japanese automaker’s first fully electric vehicle, has received a four-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) ahead of its Australian launch in June. While the vehicle demonstrated solid safety performance in several areas, its overall score was limited by mixed results in the Adult Occupant Protection category, particularly in the full-width impact test. Notably, the e Vitara lacks a head-protecting centre airbag, which contributed to the rating shortfall. ANCAP’s evaluation highlighted that the e Vitara scored 77 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 87 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 79 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 71 per cent for Safety Assist features. The car comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of airbags, including dual frontal, side chest, side head, and driver knee airbags. Standard safety assist technologies include autonomous emergency braking for various scenarios, lane support systems, and speed assist with sign recognition, although it does not offer pedestrian detection when reversing. ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg acknowledged Suzuki’s progress in safety performance, emphasising that the four-star rating reflects the brand’s capability to deliver sound safety standards. She also pointed out that achieving higher safety ratings requires consistent performance across all testing areas, signalling room for improvement in future models. The e Vitara’s rating contrasts with other recent assessments, such as the Audi Q3 plug-in hybrid, which secured a full five-star rating. The release of the e Vitara’s safety rating comes alongside reassessments of other hybrid models, including the Audi A3, Cupra Leon, and Nissan Qashqai. While the Audi models retained their five-star status, the Nissan Qashqai was downgraded to four stars. These evaluations underscore the evolving safety expectations for electrified vehicles in the Australasian market and highlight the ongoing efforts by manufacturers to meet stringent safety standards as electric vehicle adoption grows.