Some of NZ’s most popular cars now have expired safety ratings

One of the key factors many car buyers take on board when determining a purchase is how safe a vehicle is, as indicated by a star rating out of five. But little do many people know that this expires after six years.

As 2023 drew to a close, the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) released a list of all the makes and models that no longer feature a safety rating as of 31 December.

According to the vehicle safety body, cars are stripped of their stars to encourage manufacturers to update safety features and technologies fitted to their vehicles throughout their model life. If these vehicles are still being sold after six years, they must undergo re-assessment to ensure they meet the latest safety criteria.

Among the cars that are now deemed “unrated” is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, a model that regularly appears among the most popular plug-in hybrids sold in New Zealand each month.

Another popular SUV included in the expiry list is the old Toyota C-HR which is set to be replaced by a new generation model later this year. Like all new cars, the new C-HR will need to be put against the latest safety criteria to earn a star rating.

Several European SUVs now have expired safety ratings, including the BMW iX3, X3 and X4, as well as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Audi Q5, Jaguar E-Pace and F-Pace, Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover Velar, Mini Countryman, Skoda Karoq and Kodiaq, Volkswagen T-Roc, and Volvo XC60.

In terms of sports cars, the Ford Mustang and Mazda MX-5’s safety ratings are no longer current. However, the Mustang will be replaced by the new seventh-generation model in early 2024 which has yet to be rated.

As far as utes go, the only vehicle of its kind that appears on the list is the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series. However, an updated version is bound for our shores later this year complete with a new 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel four-cylinder, meaning it’ll have to undergo another round of testing.

Full list of cars with expired ANCAP safety ratings as of 31 December 2023:

• Alfa Romeo Stelvio
• Audi Q5
• BMW iX3
• BMW X3
• BMW X4
• Citroen C3
• Ford Mustang
• Jaguar E-PACE
• Jaguar F-PACE
• Jeep Cherokee
• Kia Picanto
• Land Rover Discovery
• Land Rover Range Rover Velar
• Mazda CX-5
• Mazda CX-9
• Mazda MX-5
• Mini Countryman
• Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
• Renault Koleos
• Skoda Karoq
• Skoda Kodiaq
• Toyota C-HR
• Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series
• Volkswagen Arteon
• Volkswagen T-Roc
• Volvo XC60