Kia Doubles Up in NCAP Safety Tests

SYDNEY – Dec 5, 2011: Kia’s uncompromising commitment to 5-star safety for all new models rolled on unabated with the announcement that both the Optima family sedan and the stylish 5-door Rio hatch have gained the maximum safety rating.

The Optima was crash-tested in Australia to gain its rating while the Australia New Car Assessment Program has accepted the recent 5-star result the Rio was awarded in the EuroNCAP testing program.

“Kia has made a commitment to providing Australian drivers with not only the most stylish and well-engineered new vehicles but also the safest,” Kia Motors Australia Chief Operating Officer, Tony Barlow, said.

“It is our stated intention that every new car that we bring to market in Australia will benefit from Kia’s safety research and development program and it is our expectation that no new model into the market will fall short of the 5-star ANCAP rating the Australian buyer expects and deserves.”

Optima scored a best-in-class result with 35.58 points out of a maximum 37. Side protection returned a perfect score of 16 out of 16, as did the optional pole test with two out of two. Frontal impact safety scored 14.58 out of 16 while the standard inclusion of electronic stability control and seatbelt reminders for all passengers rounded out the final tally.

In the European testing Rio achieved high scores for Adult Occupant Protection (92 percent), Child Occupant Protection (84 percent) and Safety Assist Equipment (86 percent), and Kia also received praise from the testers for fitment of ESC as standard in all European markets.

Kia’s 5-star garage now includes Rio, Soul, Optima, Sportage and Sorento.