Top ANCAP Safety Rating for Suzuki Vitara

The new generation Suzuki Vitara has received a further safety endorsement from recent independent crash testing.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), a leading motor vehicle safety advocate, has just accorded the highest 5 Star safety rating to the latest Vitara which launched in New Zealand late last year.

James Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer for ANCAP, said, “We’ve awarded a maximum 5 Star ANCAP safety rating for the Suzuki Vitara which is a real boost for consumers and Suzuki. Until now the Vitara was ranked as a top-selling unrated model across all passenger, SUV and light commercial vehicles in both Australia and New Zealand.”

Goodwin said the Vitara performed well in physical crash testing and included reverse camera and a manual speed limiter as standard.

ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian and New Zealand Governments, and Australian state and territory governments.

New Zealand buyers responded quickly to the arrival of the new model, with the Vitara becoming the best seller in the sub-$40,000 small SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) category, according to Motor Industry Association figures.

Standard safety equipment on the Vitara includes seven airbags, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic stability programme (ESP), a brake over-ride system, hill-hold assistance on the automatic versions, LED daytime running lamps, cruise control, and reversing camera. While the Ltd and Turbo models add front and rear parking sensors, rain sensing wipers, auto-levelling dusk sensing headlights, and keyless start and entry.

The ANCAP tests are carried out in Australia but include vehicles common to both New Zealand and Australia. The equivalent model tested for New Zealand was the JLX 2WD automatic version with the test results applying to this model.

“These tests come on the back of the high 5 Star NCAP ranking for Vitara in Europe,” said Gary Collins, General Manager Automobile Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand.

The Vitara achieved an 89 percent rating in the Euro NCAP adult occupant tests which was 9 percent higher than the minimum required. This result was confirmed as “good” - the maximum rating - for the frontal offset deformable barrier test, whiplash rear impact and lateral impact.

Lavish praise has been heaped on the Vitara, including an independent review by the New Zealand Automobile Association which said the model was an all-round great package and affordable to boot while gaining a fresh new body and embracing an impressive array of technologies.

Recommended retail prices for the Vitara start from $27,990, plus on-road costs, and there is a choice of two- and four-wheel-drive versions, and normally aspirated or turbocharged options.