Media statement | 22 July 2008

Latest used car crash ratings show safety can be affordable

Owning a safer car doesn’t mean breaking the bank, according to the results of the 2008 Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR), released today by Land Transport NZ and the Automobile Association.

Findings published today show that Kiwi motorists can buy a used vehicle which provides good protection to occupants and other road users in a crash for less than $5,000.

The Used Car Safety ratings assess the relative safety of 349 popular used vehicles, ranging from light cars to large 4WDs and vans.

The 2008 ratings are based on the latest information from the world’s largest database of real-life vehicle crashes, measuring the relative safety performance of used cars based on over 3.2 million actual crashes on New Zealand and Australian roads from 1986 to 2006. The crash data has been analysed and vehicle safety ratings calculated by Monash University’s Accident Research Centre.

Land Transport NZ Vehicles Manager Don Hutchinson says because the results are based on actual crashes, the ratings can be used to compare relative safety across different classes of vehicles.

"That means the small and medium sized cars with better than average ratings have outperformed the large cars and 4WDs with average or below average ratings. Using these results as a guide, a driver can choose a smaller, less expensive car over a larger vehicle without losing out on safety."

Mr Hutchinson stressed that the ratings should only be used to compare the relative safety of different used car models, and the results did not mean older vehicles would provide the same level of safety as modern vehicles equipped with multiple airbag packages and Electronic Stability Control crash avoidance technology.

"In fact, a key finding of the ratings is that many of the better performing vehicles are newer models, showing the benefits of modern safety technology like airbags, side intrusion beams, seatbelt pre-tensioners and crumple zones. The majority of the worst performing vehicles are pre-1990 models, demonstrating the gains made in occupant protection in newer vehicles."

Stella Stocks, General Manager of AA Technical Services, says safety should be high on the priority list for every vehicle purchase.

"Used car buyers have a lot of choice, and these ratings show there are significant differences in crash performance between vehicles. Choosing a safer car can literally mean the difference between life and death in a crash, and these ratings should be a vital guide for anyone in the market for a used vehicle.

"It’s encouraging that many of the better performing vehicles are in the medium and small vehicle classes. However, as we’ve seen with previous year’s results, very few commercial vehicles, either large 4WDs or light vehicles, scored well, which remains a big concern given these vehicles’ continued popularity," Ms Stocks said.

Full results are also available on www.landtransport.govt.nz/vehicles/used-cars/ and www.aa.co.nz.

Some of the safest vehicles in the 2008 UCSR include:

Class	Vehicle	Year	Starting price*
Small	VW Golf	1999 to 2004	$8,000
	Mazda 3 (import version Axela)	2003 to 2006	$13,500
Medium	Holden Vectra	1997 to 2003	$4,000
	VW Passat	1998 to 2005	$6,000
	SAAB 9-3	1998 to 2002	$9,000
	Subaru Legacy	1999 to 2003	$7,000
	Mazda 6 (import version Atenza)	2002 to 2006	$13,000
Commercial Van	Ford Transit	2001 to 2005	$13,500
Compact 4WD	Honda CRV	1997 to 2001	$7,000
	Subaru Forester	1997 to 2002	$5,000

*Estimates based on current vehicle sales advertisements and transaction history.

For more information:

Andy Knackstedt
Media Manager
Land Transport New Zealand
(04) 931 8829 or  0212 763 222

Stella Stocks
General Manager - Technical Services
New Zealand Automobile Association
(09) 966 8908  or  021 772 242