Kia Rio, Suzuki Swift get five-star ANCAP ratings
In addition to the MG GS achieving a milestone five-star safety rating this week, the Kia Rio and Suzuki Swift light hatches were also awarded top marks this week by ANCAP, though the latter only applies to certain variants.
The Rio’s 2017-stamped five-star rating applies to all versions of the Korean hatchback – despite Australian models lacking active safety gear like autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assist that are available on certain grades in Europe.
“There is healthy competition within the light car segment, and the five-star rating for all variants of the Rio adds to this,” said James Goodwin, CEO of ANCAP.
In terms of scoring, the Kia managed 35.52 points out of a possible 37, achieving full marks in the side impact and pole tests.
Meanwhile, all versions of the new-generation Suzuki Swift bar the entry-level GL get a five-star rating too.
The GL’s score was truncated due to it not satisfying the safety assist technologies requirement for a five-star rating – it misses out on the rear-view camera and hill-start assist of the GL Navigator, and therefore doesn’t feature at least six driver assist systems over the standard safety gear required for a five-star score.
“The new Swift offers an admirable line-up of safety features to an affordable market segment with the GLX Turbo and the GL Navigator offering autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning in the sub-$20,000 price bracket,” said Goodwin
“Its structural performance in crash testing is very good, and adding to this, we would encourage consumers to opt for one of the higher specified models to ensure they’re getting the best safety package.”
Also worth noting that sister company Euro NCAP rated the Suzuki Swift three stars without the European-market version’s optional safety pack, and only four stars with the tech added – though a manual speed limiter is an additional option in Europe and lane departure warning doesn’t appear to be offered at all.
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