Honda’s Accord receives crash-test bruising

HONDA’S all-new Accord has received a bruising in the latest round of ANCAP crash tests, scoring only four stars out of a possible five despite a long list of optional active safety equipment.

Honda’s large-car contender becomes the second passenger car in as many weeks, after the MG6, to fail to achieve the increasingly common five-star maximum rating.

In the same round of testing, the third-generation Kia Cerato small-car, released in hatch guise in Australia late last week and as a sedan in April, scored the company’s requisite five-star rating.

The Accord performed well in side impact and pedestrian testing, and scored a commendation for its list of safety assist technologies, which includes a system that will automatically jump on the brakes if it thinks a crash is about to happen.

However, an average performance in the frontal offset test (0.38 out of 4 for lower leg protection and 2.84 out of 4 for chest protection) kept its score down to 29.21 out of 37.

A vehicle is required to achieve a minimum of 32.5 points to qualify for the top ANCAP safety rating.

ANCAP will only perform a side-impact pole test on vehicles that gain a five-star rating.

The crash safety watchdog deducted points for excessive park pedal vertical movement, excessive park pedal rearward movement and a blocked park pedal. The pedestrian rating was an ‘Acceptable’ 20.35 out of 36. A side pole test was not conducted.

"Honda Australia is surprised and disappointed with the ANCAP result for the all-new Accord," the company said in a statement.

"The Accord has an impeccable 37-year history and this ninth-generation is no exception."“The Accord result is disappointing,” said ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh.

“(But) where the Accord does however impress is in its list of safety assist technologies,” he added.

“Key to a reduction in the number of lives lost on our roads is the inclusion of SAT (safety assist technology) which can help prevent or minimise the impact of a crash.

“Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), lane support systems and adaptive lighting are examples of the technologies consumers should be urging manufacturers to offer as standard in all new makes and models,” he said.

While all Accords include six airbags, high-end versions of the Accord also get adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane assist and a pre-crash warning.

Meantime, the Kia Cerato scored 35.51 out of 37, well inside the five-star cut-off. The score applies to both sedan and hatch versions of the car.

The Kia scored perfect marks in side impact testing and the optional pole test, and an ‘acceptable’ pedestrian rating. Points were lost in two sections of the frontal offset test: for chest protection (3.44 out of 4) and lower leg protection (3.07 out of 4).

“The Cerato passenger compartment held its shape well in the frontal offset test with pedal and steering wheel displacements well controlled,” ANCAP said in an announcement detailing the test results.

“Driver and passenger contact with the airbags was stable and all doors remained closed during the crash. Good protection was provided for the driver in both side impact and whiplash tests.”