The safety nerds at ANCAP have been busy smashing cars into walls again, and the latest victims to emerge with a shiny five-star badge are the Denza B8 and the Hyundai Elexio. If you were worried that the 2023–2025 testing criteria—which are essentially a gauntlet designed to make car manufacturers weep—would trip them up, you were wrong. Both SUVs breezed through, proving that if you pay enough for a new car these days, it’ll probably do its best to keep you alive and stop you from hitting a postie.
The real story here is the maturity of active safety tech. We are well past the days when autonomous emergency braking (AEB) was a luxury gimmick that occasionally slammed on the anchors because it caught a glimpse of a particularly aggressive shadow. Now, it’s standard kit. These two models come loaded with sensors, cameras, and software that are smarter than the average driver on a Monday morning. They don’t just watch the car in front; they are looking for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists with the kind of intensity usually reserved for a tax audit.
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ABOVE: Denza B8 and Hyundai Elexio Nab Five Stars in Latest ANCAP Test
Let’s look at the Hyundai Elexio. This all-electric medium SUV didn’t just protect the people inside; it showed some genuine empathy for those outside it. It put in a solid shift during AEB testing, particularly when it came to avoiding other vehicles and motorcycles. Interestingly, ANCAP didn’t actually have to wreck every single Elexio they could find. Because it shares so much DNA with the Kia EV5, they used technical evidence and destructive crash results from its cousin. It’s a bit like assuming the smart kid in the family has a smart brother, and in this case, the math checked out. The Elexio walked away with 88% for adult occupant protection and 85% for its safety assist features.
Then we have the Denza B8. This one is a plug-in hybrid, proving that you don’t need a pure EV to get the top gong. Much like the Hyundai, it benefitted from some family connections. Since the Denza B5 was already put through the wringer in late 2025, ANCAP looked at the documentation and decided the B8 was cut from the same cloth. However, the B8 has a slightly different snout, so they did some extra testing on the front end. It still managed a 75% score for vulnerable road user protection, which is decent enough considering SUVs are usually about as pedestrian-friendly as a falling piano. Its child occupant protection score was a staggering 95%, making it a rolling fortress for the school run.
ANCAP boss Carla Hoorweg noted that buyers now expect this level of performance regardless of whether the car runs on electrons or petrol. It’s no longer a choice between being green and being safe. You can have both, provided you’re willing to let the car take over the steering when you drift out of your lane. For families and fleet managers, these results are the green light they need to sign the paperwork. The message is clear: if it hasn’t got five stars in 2026, it’s basically a dinosaur.
The push for better safety isn’t just about the occupants. The 2023–2025 criteria have moved the goalposts significantly, forcing manufacturers to think about the “other guy.” It’s no longer enough to have a dozen airbags and a reinforced cabin. Now, the car needs to be proactive. The Denza and the Hyundai both show that the industry is catching up to the tech, turning what used to be optional extras into the bare minimum for entry into the Australian market.
If you’re the type who likes to pore over the fine print and see exactly how many points a car loses because the lane-keep assist was a bit too twitchy, the full data is out there. But for most people, the five-star sticker is all the permission they need to feel smug in the driveway. It’s a win for the brands, a win for the consumers, and a slight loss for the crash test dummies who had a very violent week at the office.
| MAKE / MODEL | ANCAP SAFETY RATING | ADULT OCCUPANT PROTECTION | CHILD OCCUPANT PROTECTION | VULNERABLE ROAD USER PROTECTION | SAFETY ASSIST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DENZA B8 | ★★★★★ (2025) | 86% | 95% | 75% | 78% |
| HYUNDAI ELEXIO | ★★★★★ (2024) | 88% | 86% | 77% | 85% |
Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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