GWM Ute gets five ANCAP stars

THE Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has announced a five-star safety rating for all GWM Ute models built from August 1, 2021, the safety performance of the new model a marked improvement on the two-star performance of its predecessor, the GWM Steed, in 2016.

The Ute has been assessed against ANCAP’s newest and most stringent test protocols, achieving full points in side impact and far-side impact tests for both adult and child occupants, full points in testing of active lane support system functionality, strong scores for driver protection in frontal impact crashes, and a high level of protection in rear impact crashes.

“This is a good outcome for consumers and fleet buyers in Australia and New Zealand, and has been achieved as a result of market demand for five star vehicles, consumer expectation and the strong influence of ANCAP protocols,” said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg. 

Full width frontal and whiplash testing did reveal some deficiencies with the performance of the Ute’s front head restraint and steering components in vehicles built between 1 September 2020 and 31 July 2021, GWM implementing design changes to models built after that timeframe to improve safety performance in these crash conditions.

“GWM has shown its willingness and strong commitment to providing its customers with the highest levels of safety by swiftly incorporating improvements to address deficiencies in existing vehicles and as a result, Australian and New Zealand consumers are being supplied with a safer vehicle,” said Ms Hoorweg.

The Chinese car-maker has committed to improving the safety of earlier-built GWM Ute vehicles through a targeted servicing campaign with rectification action available through Great Wall Motors dealerships, an action Ms Hoorweg encouraged owners to undertake as soon as possible.

“Consumers and fleet owners need to be aware that if their vehicle was built prior to August 2021, it is not five-star rated until the rectification action is complete, and ANCAP will be monitoring progress of the service campaign to ensure all in-service vehicles are fixed quickly,” she said.

“Those who have already purchased a vehicle built prior to August 2021 should return their vehicle to their local dealership and have the no-cost rectification action completed in order for that individual vehicle to meet the five-star standards and ensure they have the safest vehicle available.”

The GWM Ute joins the Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 in achieving a five-star safety result under ANCAP’s more stringent crash testing protocol.

Prior to achieving its five-star safety score the GWM Ute was not considered eligible by many corporate fleets.

Great Wall Motors says the result will enhance business opportunities for the brand across Australia and New Zealand and that it will begin taking a “number of initiatives to help expand GWM Ute’s presence across corporate and fleet categories”.

GWM says a new dual-cab variant of the Ute will arrive “sometime in early 2022”, the model to arrive as standard with a factory-fitted aluminium tray to provide “additional appeal for Australia’s huge army of tradespeople and primary producers”. 

The company is also exploring local options for vehicle enhancement, engineering, and tuning to “further strengthen its appeal to Australian buyers”, it says.

VFACTS figures show GWM has sold 5693 examples of its Ute 4x4 variants to the end of October 2021, with an additional 75  Ute 4x2 units sold. 

The Ute ranks ninth in the ultra-competitive Pick-Up/Cab-Chassis 4x4 segment locally, behind the Volkswagen Amarok (6901), Nissan Navara (10,026), Toyota LandCruiser 70 (10,149), Mazda BT-50 (11,153), Mitsubishi Triton (14,458), Isuzu D-Max (16,266), and dominant Toyota HiLux (34,238) and Ford Ranger (38,291).