Mazda BT-50 grabs 5 star ANCAP rating
Wednesday, 28 October 2020
The Mazda BT-50 has recently been awarded a five-star safety rating by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), meaning that it lines up alongside its Isuzu D-Max twin as being one of the safest utes available in the New Zealand market.
The Mazda’s slicker styling, however, meant it scored slightly less than the D-Max it shares its mechanical underpinnings with in a few areas.
Although both utes scored the maximum five-star safety rating and earned identical scores in most areas, the Mazda BT-50 earned 67 per cent (36.62 out of 54) in the vulnerable road user assessment, compared to 69 per cent (37.63 out of 54) for the Isuzu D-Max due to its different nose.
The BT-50's bold nose also scored slightly lower than the Isuzu D-Max in terms of pedestrian head protection (16.98 out of 24 compared to 17.78 out of 24 for the Isuzu) and upper leg impacts (4.80 out of 6 versus 5.01 out of 6 for the Isuzu).
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However, in all other areas, the BT-50’s safety scores were identical to the D-Max.
While the safety rating for the Mazda BT-50 is predominantly based on testing of the Isuzu D-Max, as well as an evaluation of supplied technical evidence from both manufacturers, in a statement released by ANCAP, the organisation said that because the BT-50 had a different front bumper and fascia to the D-Max, 'supplementary testing was conducted to determine any differences in pedestrian protection performance'.
“These additional tests revealed a very slight increase in potential injury risk, with the BT-50 achieving a slightly lower score of 67 per cent in the area of Vulnerable Road User Protection.”
ANCAP awarded maximum points to the BT-50’s protection of adult occupants in the side impact and oblique pole tests, and full points were also given to the protection of child occupants in the frontal offset and side impact tests.
New safety features introduced to the Mazda BT-50 include a centre airbag – to assist in reducing occupant-to-occupant injuries in a severe side impact.
“As the latest release into the high-selling segment, the Mazda BT-50 provides a comprehensive safety offering to both fleet and private buyers,” said Rhianne Robson, ANCAP director, communications and advocacy.
“This top rating underscores the importance placed on safety by Mazda, with all models in its range carrying a 5 star ANCAP safety rating,” said ANCAP.