In a year marked by significant advancements in vehicle safety, the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has unveiled its top safety performers for 2024.
- First Place: Toyota Camry (88.4% Overall Score)
- Second Place: Mazda CX-80 (87.6% Overall Score)
- Third Place: Zeekr X (87.4% Overall Score)
The Toyota Camry, Mazda CX-80, and Zeekr X have emerged as the standout vehicles, each achieving five-star ANCAP safety ratings under the rigorous 2023-2025 test and rating protocols.
Ranking Methodology
ANCAP's overall weighting calculation places a strong emphasis on physical crash protection, with Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) accounting for 40% of the total score. The remaining assessment areas - Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist - each contribute 20% to the final ranking.
Top Performers
Toyota Camry: The hybrid medium car secured the highest overall weighted ranking with an impressive 88.4%. ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg, highlighted the Camry's exceptional performance, noting its 95% score in Adult Occupant Protection - the highest AOP score of all vehicles assessed in 2024.
Mazda CX-80: This large SUV, available in petrol, diesel, and PHEV variants, claimed the second spot with an overall weighted score of 87.6%. The CX-80 demonstrated consistent performance across all assessment pillars, with Hoorweg noting its particularly strong showing in the Adult Occupant Protection category.
Zeekr X: The all-electric small SUV from newcomer Zeekr rounded out the top three with a weighted score of 87.4%, showcasing the brand's commitment to safety in its Australian and New Zealand market debut.
Market Trends
The 2024 ratings revealed encouraging trends in the automotive industry. Of the 23 vehicles rated by ANCAP, nearly half were new models entering the Australian and New Zealand markets. Impressively, all but one of these new entrants achieved a five-star safety rating.
Room for Improvement
While the majority of rated vehicles performed well, some models fell short of expectations. The Suzuki Swift received a one-star safety rating, which we previously added in another article, while the Hyundai i30 and Jeep Avenger each earned three stars.
As the automotive industry looks ahead, ANCAP encourages manufacturers to use these results as a benchmark for enhancing safety features in future model iterations, ensuring continued improvement in vehicle safety standards across the board.
