RAA used car safety ratings guide shows 63 models were rated just one star

HOW safe is your car? A new list from the RAA shows a huge 63 models were rated just one star out of five for safety. Check where your car appeared on the list here.

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THE RAA has urged motorists to check the safety rating of their vehicles after a whopping 63 models were rated one star out of five.

Of the 372 models ranked in the motoring organisation’s annual road crashes study, 44 received two stars and 61 were awarded five.

But RAA spokesman Mark Borlace said vehicle safety didn’t have to come at a premium price, with some of the best-rated used car models — such as the Toyota Camry built from 2011-16 — can be bought for less than $10,000.

“The driver of a one-star rated vehicle was twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured than the driver of a five-star rated vehicle,’’ Mr Borlace said.

A 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer, which received just one star for safety.

Large SUVs were by far the safest category of cars on the road. Of the 26 tested, 13 were rated at five stars, and unlike all other categories none was given one star.

In contrast, 18 of the 31 smallest vehicles on the road — classified as “light” cars — have only a one-star rating.

Only the Honda City, built from 2009 to 2013, gained a maximum rating.

The 2018 Used Car Safety Ratings Buyer’s Guide used data from eight million crashes reported to police in Australia and New Zealand, involving cars manufactured between 1982 to 2016.

“A vehicle’s size and weight, design, and safety features such as airbags and types of seat belts all contributed to its rating,’’ Mr Borlace said.

Mr Borlace said unlike other ratings systems the scheme made it possible for buyers to select safer vehicles of wide-ranging age and price.

ANCAP laboratory testing, which gives cars their official star safety rating when they are bought new, does not use on-road crash information, and only started in 1993.

He said the RAA’s rating released today showed that large and medium cars as well as SUVs dominated vehicles with the five-star rating.

In contrast, commercial utes most frequently had the lowest safety rating.

Of the 28 ute models studied, the only ones with a five-star rating were the Volkswagen Amarok, built between 2011-2016, the Holden Colorado RC (2008-11), the Ford F-Series (2001-06), the Ford Falcon, (2008-16) and the Ford/Mazda Ranger/BT-50, (2011-15).

“Utes with fewer safety stars are a major concern, given the consistent increase in popularity of these vehicles over recent years,’’ Mr Borlace said.

“This was in part due to design standards for light commercial vehicles lagging behind those of regular passenger cars.’’

Small cars also rated badly, with only three of 56 judged five-star and 22 achieving just one star. People movers, or the family van category, were also relatively safe, with two being rated at five stars, four with four stars, two with two stars and only one given one star.

A Used Car Safety Ratings 2018 brochure can be downloaded at raa.com.au.