Nissan grabs five-star score for Navara

NISSAN has achieved a five-star crash safety rating for its entire Navara pick-up range, including all dual-cab, king-cab and single-cab variants of the Thai-built workhorse.

In the latest round of testing conducted by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), the Navara was awarded the maximum star rating, which matches the result of its key rival, the Mitsubishi Triton.

During initial testing in March, ANCAP noted an problem with the webbing loop for the child restraint top tether, but the crash-safety authority said in a statement that the results were held back until a fix was found.

GoAuto reported on the child seat restraint fault just weeks out from the Navara's national media launch and showroom debut, but at the time Nissan Australia said the fault was being fixed at the factory and at the relevant ports prior to the new-gen ute's on-sale date.

Single-cab versions of the Navara achieved an overall score of 34.01 out of a possible 37 points, losing one point for seatbelt reminders but achieving the maximum 16 for side impact performance, while pedestrian protection was listed as 'marginal'.

Dual-cab body styles were awarded full marks for the seatbelt reminders, lifting its overall score to 35.01, while the king-cab variants also scored 35.01 out of 37.

The Triton, meanwhile, scored 36.22 out of 37 in crash-safety testing in April this year.

ANCAP chief executive officer Nicholas Clarke praised Nissan's quick response in fixing the tether, and highlighted the importance of independent crash testing in Australia.

“Nissan developed an improved design of the webbing loop and ANCAP conducted a satisfactory follow-up crash test,” he said. “ANCAP has been advised that all affected Navara models have been upgraded with the improved top tether routing.

“Without ANCAP's independent, expert testing, consumers would be none the wiser as to the performance of vital safety aspects of today's new cars.”

In June this year, Global NCAP secretary general David Ward took a swipe at car manufacturers and some sections of the media that had questioned the relevance of maintaining the local crash-safety watchdog, suggesting that some changes to testing brought on by the decision to gradually adopt Euro NCAP rules by 2018 were confusing, misleading or inadequate.

“Global NCAP is baffled by the recent negative comments made in the Australian media about ANCAP when, in fact, it has made a huge contribution to reducing road trauma at home in Australia and is also a strong partner with the other nine established NCAPs around the world,” he said in June.

Many volume-selling utes have achieved five-star ratings in recent years after falling behind passenger car safety standards for many years.

Other five-star rated utes include all variants of the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50, all 4x4 dual-cab, single-cab and extra-cab versions of the Toyota HiLux, 4x4 crew-cab variants of the Isuzu D-Max and all dual-cab versions of the Holden Colorado.