Kia EV6 and VW Multivan PHEV get top ANCAP safety ratings

The full five safety stars have been awarded by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) to all variants of the Kia EV6, plus the Volkswagen Multivan PHEV (people mover) now on sale in New Zealand.

All single and dual motor variants of the Kia EV6 battery electric vehicle (BEV) are covered by the five-star ANCAP safety rating.  Good scores were achieved across all key areas of assessment, with full points scored for the driver in both the side impact and oblique pole tests, and for child occupants in the frontal offset test.  Marginal performance, however, was recorded for the driver’s chest and lower leg in the frontal offset (MPDB) test, ANCAP reports.

“The Kia EV6 is equipped with the range of collision avoidance systems we’ve come to expect in today’s five-star cars, and it performed particularly well for its ability to prevent collisions with cyclists, and oncoming vehicles in avoidance tests simulating intersection turns,” says ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg.

The VW Multivan plug-in hybrid (PHEV) – introduced to New Zealand consumers this month – becomes the fourth people mover assessed under ANCAP’s 2020-2022 protocols.

Dual frontal and side chest-protecting airbags and side-head protecting airbags for the first, second and third seating rows of the Multivan are fitted as standard.  A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard.

“As the first PHEV people mover to be rated by ANCAP, it’s pleasing to see Volkswagen have provided both a safe and environmentally-friendly option to their customers,” says Hoorweg.

A strong score of 89% was achieved in the area of Child Occupant Protection with full points scored by the Multivan for both the 10-year and six-year-old child dummies in the frontal offset and side impact tests.  The driver and front passenger also scored well in the frontal offset test, however in the oblique pole test the side curtain airbag detached from clips securing it to the roof rail and points were deducted.  As a result, scores were downgraded from good to adequate.

“The results demonstrate that models across a range of market segments, brands and powertrains can continue to achieve the highest levels of safety for Australian and New Zealand consumers,” Hoorweg adds.

The Kia EV6 (introduced in Australia in February 2022 and New Zealand in April 2022) and VW Multivan PHEV are among three models (including the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan) assessed against ANCAP’s 2020-2022 requirements.

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