Great Wall Motors has copped a beating from independent vehicle safety advocate ANCAP following the release of crash test data of its low-price Steed ute.
The Steed scored one of the lowest ever scores for the ANCAP tests achieving just two stars and making a mockery of its own claims of ‘outstanding levels of performance, value, safety and comfort.’
ANCAP’s CEO James Goodwin says the result is not good enough for a modern vehicle.
“This is a disappointing result for consumers and the brand. While the Steed is equipped with six airbags and electronic stability control, features which were not offered on the previous model [V240], there has been little change to the vehicle’s structure to improve the safety of the passenger cabin,” Goodwin said.
ANCAP scores are given based on points accrued by on three different crashes: frontal offset, worth 16 points, side impact, also worth 16, and pole test which is worth two. There are also three points for seat belt warning sounds – making a perfect score 37. There is also a pedestrian safety test conducted.
Points are deducted for various elements of the crash data such as the likelihood of head, leg and body injury.
ANCAP also evaluates the number and location of airbags, whiplash and pedestrian protection, child seat anchor points.
The Steed was given full marks in the side impact test by default, but has been slammed for excessive footwell deformation and pedal displacement from the frontal offset test. The test dummy showed poor results for the driver’s lower leg, marginal results for the upper leg and torso and acceptable levels for the passengers.
Report data shows the pedestrian protection and pole tests were not carried out despite being eligible, with ANCAP claiming the performance in frontal impact test was too poor.
While the result is far from great, it is the view of Truck and Bus news that the ANCAP rating system is far from perfect, especially considering the Ford Mustang was also handed two stars earlier this year.
While there is a strong emphasis on the actual crash data, there is too much importance placed on modern bells and chimes such as seat belt warnings.
Truck and Bus News believes that if a car is being tested that it should be put through all the tests, rather than have ANCAP deny the opportunity based onjust one crash result.
It is only through rigorous crash testing that brands will up their game and ANCAP is going to conduct a front on crash only and then deny models the chance to be put through the other tests there won’t be true representation of how they stack up on impacts – and furthermore, it will be unclear what developments are needed for revisions of the model.