ANCAP: Five stars for imported Toyota Camry

AUSTRALIA’S first imported Toyota Camry in 30 years has landed in showrooms with a five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), with an impressive overall score of 36.16 out of 37, or 98 per cent.

Strong marks were recorded in the areas of occupant protection, however the Camry managed to avoid testing for autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, as is implemented on cars tested by Euro NCAP.

The Camry achieved a score of 15.16 out of 16 in the frontal offset test, with the driver’s chest and both occupant’s lower legs returning an ‘acceptable’ rating, with all other body area protection rated as ‘good’.

Perfect scores were achieved on the side impact and pole tests with ‘good’ ratings all round, while neck protection in the whiplash test was also rated as ‘good’.

An ‘acceptable’ rating of 27.23 out of 36 was recorded in the pedestrian protection test, with generally ‘good’ or ‘acceptable’ ratings found for pedestrian head impacts on the car’s bonnet, with some poorer results around the bottom of the windshield and on the A-pillars.

The adult leg protection test returned full points with nearly all ‘good’ results on the car’s front bumper and grille, and some weaker findings around the headlights.

Seven airbags come as standard on the new Camry, as does electronic stability control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking, which was not tested.

Full points were awarded for seatbelt reminders.

The Camry is the second consecutive new car to score strongly in crash tests, after the Volvo XC60 scored 98 per cent for adult occupant protection and 95 per cent for safety assist in the more rigorous Euro NCAP standards.

ANCAP CEO James Goodwin said the five-star rating for the Camry was especially important given its popularity as a fleet vehicle and family sedan.

“The Camry remains a popular choice for families and fleet buyers so it is important high levels of safety are offered,” he said,“It is encouraging to see the Camry fitted as standard with an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system which operates at city and highway speeds, as well as an active lane support system.

“We’re pleased to see Toyota maintain its high level of safety with manufacturing of the Camry having now switched from local production to a Japanese-built model.”