Isuzu D-Max and Colorado Variants Fall Short

MELBOURNE – Oct 12, 2012: The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) expressed its concerns about the 4 star ANCAP safety ratings for the Isuzu D-Max and single / space cab Holden Colorado utilities released today.

The 4 star ANCAP safety rating for the single / space cab Holden Colorado utilities closely follows the 5 star ANCAP safety rating achieved by the crew (dual) cab Colorado earlier this year.

A difference in safety specifications means there is a higher risk of serious occupant injury in the single / space cab Colorados and the D-Max than the Colorado crew cab. The single / space cab Colorado variants are fitted with only single pretensioners for the seat belts and a driver seat belt reminder (SBR) compared with dual pretensioners and driver and front passenger SBRs which are standard on the crew cab.

"The 4 star ANCAP safety rating for the D-Max is an improvement on the rating of the former model but with an increasing number of fleets now requiring 5 star vehicles, and consumers also purchasing these utes for family transport, safety should be the priority when making the purchasing decision," said ANCAP Chairman, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh.

"The 5 star ANCAP safety rating of the Colorado crew cabs should be praised; however a 4 star result for the single / space cab models is disappointing," Mr McIntosh added.

"Like the single / space cab Colorados, the shared-platform D-Max also has only single pretensioners resulting in the 4 star ANCAP safety rating," said Mr McIntosh.

"While the Colorado's pedestrian protection result was 'Acceptable', the D-Max's was 'Marginal'. ANCAP would like to see manufacturers all targeting the top level of pedestrian protection to reduce injuries to unprotected road users," Mr McIntosh concluded.

ANCAP continues to encourage both private and commercial consumers to 'accept nothing less' than 5 star safety ratings across passenger and light commercial vehicles