New Civic and Veloster Set Highest Safety Standard

MELBOURNE – Feb 3, 2012: The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) today announced crash test ratings for the Honda Civic and Hyundai Veloster – both achieving 5 stars under the second year of the new ANCAP Road Map.

The Honda Civic was awarded ANCAP’s maximum 5 star rating for occupant protection as well as the highest possible rating of “Good” for pedestrian protection.

“With the inclusion of pedestrian protection ratings into the overall rating from 2012, Honda should be congratulated on achieving ANCAP’s highest result in that aspect of the testing,” said ANCAP Chair, Lauchlan McIntosh.

“Pedestrian protection is an area that has not been well addressed amongst the current fleet so Honda has thrown out a challenge to other vehicle manufacturers,” he said.

A new model onto the Australasian market, the Hyundai Veloster sports car also achieved 5 stars.

“This new model now increases Hyundai’s range of 5 star rated vehicles and offers consumers better and safer choices in this sometimes overlooked vehicle category.”

Remarking on the achievements of both models, Mr McIntosh said he was pleased to see both cars had achieved the new higher safety standards set out in ANCAP’s Road Map.

“It is important that ANCAP continues to raise the bar when it comes to vehicle safety. The Road Map does that and these results confirm that car manufacturers are willing to lead the way.”

ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, all Australian state governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.

For a full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings, other vehicle safety information and the specifications of the rated vehicles go to www.ancap.com.au