Buyers rely on ANCAP crash tests to provide an accurate assessment of a vehicle’s safety. Today, the Mitsubishi Express van scored ZERO Stars, the first vehicle to do so. ANCAP test new cars along with the sister organisation in Europe, EuroNCAP.

To keep ratings current, they are valid for 6 years from the date of issue.  Fleet buyers generally require a 5 star rating of less than 6 years, and some specific no older than 3 years.

CLICK HERE to see WHY the Mitsubishi Van got ZERO STARS

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ABOVE: 2021 Mitsubishi Express Van

Why is a 6 year rating important?

A 6 year rating means that all vehicles are held to the latest standards. In fact, a 6 year-old 5-star vehicle tested again, may not score 5 stars.

Previously, ratings did not have an end date. So, a 15 year-old car that was 5 star when tested, would still have a 5 star rating. Clearly, that is not a valid assessment of the current standings.

Car companies have long been concerned that having to keep up with current safety standards costs money and affects their bottom lines. Mr Weber, of the FCAI said, “safety is a priority”, but in claiming that ANCAP is seeking a headline, Mr. Weber misses that fact that the test results show that the Mitsubishi Express van got zero stars.

Mr. Weber is saying that rather than test a car to get Zero stars, it should not be retested.

Mitsubishi withdrew the van in 2014, only to reintroduce it in 2020. The test results were shocking.

Poorly designed seats and head rests increased the chance of whiplash. The is no AEB or lane keep assist, as well as a lack of airbags.

Whiplash protection scored 0 out of 1, as did far-side impact.

Adult protection got a 55% score, child protection was not rated, vulnerable road users scored just 40%, and safety assist received a miserable 7%.

In other words, an adult driving a Mitsubishi van was likely to be seriously injured in an accident.

Toyota Hiace van by comparison got 5 stars with 94%, 88%, 84%, and 77% for each of the above ratings.

GayCarBoys has been told that private buyers just want a cheap van to transport goods as inexpensively as possible. However, fleet buyers will form their own opinions on what constitutes safety, both for the employees, and other road users.

 

ANCAP’s report says:

“Unfortunately we saw below par performance for protection of occupants and vulnerable road users from the Express, with results lowered even further due to a fundamental lack of active safety systems.”

The zero star rating will see the Mitsubishi Express ineligible for purchase by a wide range of fleets and commercial buyers that have for many years required 5 star rated vehicles.

 

The questions is, do buyers want to know if a vehicle is likely to save their lives in a crash, or not.