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Safety in style: 5 star cars under $25,000 |
By Amy Bradney-George
7 January 2009
Along with fuel prices, safety is one of the biggest issues road users face in Australia today.
To reduce road risks, the safety features of a potential new car should be considered before taking out a secured car loanor unsecured car loan.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is an institution that runs a series of tests on new cars and gives them between one (low) and five (high) stars to indicate how many safety features are available.
Using information from ANCAP’s crash tests and car manufacturers, the following list shows five star cars available for under $25,000 in Australia.
5 Stars - Fiat 500
Marketed as a ‘totally customisable’ car, the Fiat 500 is a compact, light car with prices starting at $22,990. It’s fuel-efficient, coming in at 5.1 litres per 100 kilometres, in its most recent fuel economy tests and features ‘intelligent seatbelt reminders’ in both front seats.
ANCAP gave the Fiat 500 a score of 15.11 out of 16 in the offset crash test, noting a small risk of chest and leg injuries for the driver and passenger. In the side impact test there was a slight risk of serious chest injury for the driver, but the overall safety score was 15.80 out of 16.
4 Stars - Ford Focus
Starting at $20,490 the Ford Focus 5-door hatch model features a smooth 2.0 litre Duratec 16V engine and a trip computer for the tech savvy. Safety measures include Electronic Stability Control in most Australian models (needed for five stars to be awarded) and a load limiter in the two front seatbelts.
In the offset crash test it scored 15.66 out of 16, with a slight risk of chest injury to the driver noted. The side impact test was even better at 15.8 out of 16.
3 Stars - Hyundai i30
The i30 has been called ‘the new mark in Hyundai engineering and design’ by the manufacturers and has been specifically designed for Australia’s unique terrain. Starting from $19,990 for a five-speed manual model, it features an Electronic Stability Program to re-establish directional stability, ‘anti-whiplash’ head restraints and reinforced cushion zones on the interior.
In the offset crash test it scored 12.97 with upper-leg and lower-leg injuries being the most likely. The i30 scored better in the side impact test, 15.57, but there was some risk of serious abdominal injury for the driver.
2 Stars - Mazda2
Zooming into place at number 2 is the Mazda2, a light weight, easy to handle car priced between $16,500 and $20,920 without extras. Safety features include electronic brake distribution to dampen inertia and a three-point seatbelt for the rear-centre seat.
The Mazda2 scored 15.55 for the offset crash test, with chest and leg injuries to the driver a possibility. In the side impact test it scored 14.78 and a slight risk of chest or abdominal injury to the driver was noted. The five star rating only applies to Mazda2’s fitted with Electronic Stability Control, but it’s worth paying a little extra to when it could save someone’s life.
1 Star - Ford Fiesta
Partying into 2009 showrooms is the new Ford Fiesta, released in Australia on January 1. The standard Fiesta models start at $15,750 while the Zetec range, which are a five star rating without any extras, range in price from $20,250 – $20,990.
The new Fiesta has only just been tested, and results are yet to be made available on the ANCAP website, but the NRMA reports that it scored well in the frontal offset and side impact crash tests.
Safety note
The ANCAP 5 star rating only applies to models fitted with Electronic Stability Control, and some of the cars they test are European models. Check with the ANCAP website, manufacturer or dealership to make sure you get all five safety stars on Australian models.
To find the lowest rates for car loans in Australia use RateCity’s car loan comparison.
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