ANCAP: Five stars for Toyota 70 Series LandCruiser

THE Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has handed down its latest set of safety ratings, awarding the updated 70 Series LandCruiser and new Prius hybrid the maximum five-star score.

The 70 Series Cruiser, which previously held a mere three-star safety rating, has been bolstered by the addition of numerous safety features including electronic stability control (ESC), brake assistance, electronic brake distribution (EBD), cruise control and curtain and driver’s knee airbags.

For the ANCAP test, the single cab variant of the updated workhorse was used, where it managed a combined overall score of 35.75 out of 37.

It achieved a perfect score in the side impact test and pole test, while scoring 14.75 out of 16 (or 92 per cent) in the frontal offset test.

Whiplash protection was assessed as being ‘good’, however it scored a mere 12.17 out of 36 for the pedestrian protection test, giving it a ‘marginal’ rating due to particularly poor protection from the outer bonnet areas.

The 70 Series has received updates to both its safety equipment and 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 resulting in a reduced CO2 emissions to meet ever-stricter environmental regulations.

Another reason for the update in safety equipment is that a number of businesses require five-star ratings for not only its fleets but also contractor vehicles, of which the 70 Series is a popular option thanks to its durability and reliability.

ANCAP CEO James Goodwin said pressure from fleet buyers was one of the reasons for the change.

“It is encouraging Toyota has responded to consumer demand, particularly from commercial and fleet buyers, and implemented design changes and safety upgrades to improve the LandCruiser safety rating,” he said.

“This competitive pressure has resulted in a two-star jump for the Landcruiser 70 and will have a tangible effect on the safety of worksites and more broadly, Australasia’s vehicle fleet.”

Meanwhile, the fourth-generation Toyota Prius racked up another five-star rating thanks to its overall score of 36.22 out of 37 (98 per cent), including perfect scores in side impact and pole tests.

On sale in Australia since March, it managed 15.22 out of 16 (95 per cent) for the frontal offside test, and 28.55 out of 36 for the pedestrian protection test – enough for a ‘good’ rating.

It also achieved a ‘good’ rating for all aspects of the whiplash protection test.

“The Prius has held a 5 star ANCAP safety rating for a number of generations and the current model continues to impress with a notable line-up of advanced safety assist technologies as standard including autonomous emergency braking, lane support systems and adaptive cruise control,” Mr Goodwin said.