Used Car Safety

The tables below provide you with the crash safety rating for the driver. They show you how well each vehicle protects its driver from death or serious injury in a crash.

Vehicle Types

• Light Cars
• Small Cars
• Medium Cars
• Large Cars
• People Movers

• Commercial - Vans
• Commercial - Utes
• Compact SUVs
• Medium SUVs
• Large SUVs

Download the PDF

Download the Used Car Safety Ratings 2012 brochure (PDF, 2.71MB)

Light Cars

Make	Model	Year	Rating
Mazda	2	07-10
Holden	Barina XC	01-06
Honda	Jazz / Fit	02-08
Toyota	Yaris	05-10
Holden	Barina TK	05-10
Mazda	2	02-07
Suzuki	Swift	05-10
Daewoo	Kalos	03-04
Daewoo	Matiz	99-04
Daihatsu	Charade	82-86
Daihatsu	Charade	88-92
Daihatsu	Charade	93-00
Daihatsu	Mira	90-96
Daihatsu	Sirion / Storia	98-04
Ford	Ka	99-02
Ford	Festiva WD/WH/WF	94-01
Ford / Mazda	Festiva WA / 121	87-90
Holden	Barina SB	95-00
Holden / Suzuki	Barina / Swift / Cultus	86-88
Holden / Suzuki	Barina / Swift / Cultus	89-99
Honda	City	83-86
Hyundai	Getz / TB	02-10
Mazda	121 / Autozam Review	94-96
Mazda	121 Metro / Demio	97-02
Mitsubishi	Mirage / Colt	82-88
Nissan	Micra	95-97
Subaru	Sherpa / Fiori / 700 / Rex	89-92
Suzuki	Alto	85-00
Suzuki	Hatch / Alto	82-84
Suzuki	Ignis	00-02
Suzuki	Swift	82-85
Toyota	Echo	99-05
Toyota	Starlet	96-99

Small Cars

Make	Model	Year	Rating
Honda	Civic	06-10
Peugeot	307	01-09
Volkswagen	Golf / Bora	99-04
Volkswagen	Golf / Jetta	04-10
Volvo	S40/V40	97-04
Ford	Focus LR	02-05
Ford	Focus LS / LT	05-09
Holden	Astra AH	04-09
Holden	Viva JF	05-09
Mazda	3 / Axela	03-09
Peugeot	306	94-01
Subaru	Impreza	01-07
Toyota	Corolla	07-10
Volkswagen	Golf	95-98
Ford / Mazda	Laser / 323	99-03
Holden	Astra TR	96-98
Holden	Astra TS	98-06
Honda	Civic	01-05
Mitsubishi	Lancer CH	03-07
Toyota	Corolla	02-07
Toyota	Corolla / Allex	98-01
Daewoo	Nubira	97-03
Honda	Civic	96-00
Honda	Integra	90-92
Honda	Integra	93-01
Hyundai	Elantra	00-06
Kia	Rio JB	05-10
Nissan	Pulsar	00-05
Nissan	Pulsar / Vector / Sentra	92-95
Suzuki	Baleno / Cultus Crescent	95-02
Alfa Romeo	GTV	82-84
Daewoo	1.5i	94-95
Daewoo	Cielo	95-97
Daewoo	Lanos	97-03
Daihatsu	Applause	89-99
Ford	Laser	91-94
Ford	Laser	95-97
Ford	Capri	89-94
Ford / Mazda	Laser / 323 / Familia	82-88
Holden	Gemini	82-84
Holden	Gemini RB	86-87
Holden / Nissan	Astra / Pulsar / Langley	84-86
Holden / Nissan	Astra / Pulsar / Vector / Sentra	88-90
Honda	Civic	92-95
Honda	Civic	82-83
Honda	Civic / Ballade / Shuttle	84-87
Honda	Civic / Shuttle	88-91
Honda	CRX	87-91
Honda	Integra	86-88
Hyundai	Accent	00-06
Hyundai	Coupe	96-00
Hyundai	Excel	86-90
Hyundai	Excel	90-94
Hyundai	Excel / Accent	95-00
Hyundai	Lantra	91-95
Hyundai	Lantra	96-00
Hyundai	S Coupe	90-96
Kia	Rio	00-05
Mazda	323 / Familia / Lantis	90-93
Mazda	323 / Familia / Lantis	95-98
Mitsubishi	Cordia	83-87
Mitsubishi	Lancer / Mirage CA	89-90
Mitsubishi	Lancer / Mirage CB	91-92
Mitsubishi	Lancer / Mirage CC	93-95
Mitsubishi	Lancer / Mirage CE	96-03
Mitsubishi	Lancer CE / CG / Cedia	02-03
Nissan	Exa	87-91
Nissan	Pulsar / Vector / Sentra	96-99
Nissan	Exa	83-86
Nissan	Gazelle / Silvia	84-86
Nissan	NX/NX-R	91-96
Proton	Wira	95-96
Subaru	Impreza	93-00
Toyota	Corolla	82-84
Toyota	Corolla	86-88
Toyota	MR2	87-90
Toyota	Paseo / Cynos	91-99
Toyota	Tercel	83-88
Toyota / Holden	Corolla / Nova	89-93
Toyota / Holden	Corolla / Nova	94-97
Volkswagen	Golf	82-94

Medium Cars

Make	Model	Year	Rating
Audi	A4	01-08
BMW	3 Series E90/E91/E92/E93	05-10
BMW	5 Series E39	96-03
Honda	Accord	03-07
Mazda	6	02-07
Mercedes Benz	C-Class W203	00-07
Saab	9000	86-97
Saab	900/9-3	94-02
Subaru	Liberty / Legacy / Outback	03-09
Volkswagen	Passat	98-06
Honda	Accord	99-02
Honda	Prelude	97-02
BMW	5 Series E34	89-95
Ford	Cougar	99-03
Ford	Mondeo	95-01
Honda	Accord Euro	03-08
Mercedes Benz	C-Class W202	95-00
Peugeot	505	82-93
Subaru	Liberty / Legacy / Outback	99-03
BMW	3 Series E36	92-98
BMW	3 Series E46	99-06
Holden	Vectra	97-03
Honda	Accord	91-93
Honda	Accord	94-98
Mazda	626	98-02
Nissan	200SX / Silvia	94-02
Nissan	Bluebird	93-97
Subaru	Liberty / Legacy / Outback	94-98
Toyota	Celica	94-99
Volvo	200 Series	82-93
BMW	3 Series E30	82-91
Ford / Mazda	Telstar / 626 / MX6 / Capella / Cronos	92-97
Honda	Accord	86-90
Honda	Prelude	92-96
Subaru	Liberty / Legacy	89-93
Daewoo	Espero	95-97
Daewoo	Tacuma	00-04
Ford / Mazda	Telstar / 626 / MX6 / Capella	83-86
Ford / Mazda	Telstar / 626 / MX6 / Capella	88-91
Holden	Camira	82-89
Holden / Toyota	Apollo JK/JL / Camry / Vista	88-92
Holden / Toyota	Apollo JM/JP / Camry / Sceptor	93-97
Honda	Accord	82-85
Honda	Prelude	83-91
Mazda	RX7	82-85
Mitsubishi	Galant	95-96
Mitsubishi	Sigma / Galant / Sapporo / Lambda	82-84
Mitsubishi	Starion	82-87
Nissan	Bluebird	82-86
Nissan	Pintara	86-88
Nissan / Ford	Pintara / Corsair / Bluebird	89-92
Subaru	1800 / Leone / Omega / 4WD Wagon	82-93
Toyota	Camry	83-86
Toyota	Celica	81-85
Toyota	Celica	86-89
Toyota	Celica	90-93
Toyota	Corona	82-88

Large Cars

Make	Model	Year	Rating
Ford	Falcon FG	08-10
Mercedes Benz	E-Class W210	96-02
Mitsubishi	380	05-08
Toyota	Aurion	06-10
Ford	Fairlane & LTD AU	99-02
Ford	Falcon BA/BF	02-08
Holden	Commodore VE	06-10
Holden	Commodore VY/VZ	02-07
Holden	Monaro	01-05
Holden	Statesman/Caprice WH	99-03
Honda	Legend	86-95
Mercedes Benz	E-Class W124	86-94
Mitsubishi	Magna TL/TW / Verada KL/KW	03-05
Toyota	Avalon	00-05
Toyota	Camry	02-06
Toyota	Camry	06-10
Volvo	700/900 Series	84-92
Ford	Fairlane N & LTD D	88-94
Ford	Fairlane N & LTD D	95-98
Ford	Falcon AU	98-02
Holden	Commodore VT/VX	97-02
Holden	Stateman/Caprice VR/VS	94-98
Nissan	Maxima / Cefiro	95-99
Toyota	Camry	98-02
Toyota	Cressida / Mark II	89-93
Volvo	850/S70/V70/C70	92-99
Ford	Falcon EB Series II / Falcon ED	92-94
Ford	Falcon EF/EL	94-98
Holden / Toyota	Commodore VR/VS / Lexcen	93-97
Hyundai	Sonata	89-97
Mitsubishi	Magna TE/TF/TH/TJ / Verada KE/KF/KH/KJ / Diamante	96-03
Mitsubishi	Magna TR/TS / Verada KR/KS / V3000 / Diamante	91-96
Nissan	Maxima	90-94
Ford	Fairlane Z & LTD F	82-87
Ford	Falcon EA / Falcon EB Series I	88-92
Ford	Falcon XE/XF	82-88
Holden	Statesman/Caprice WB	82-85
Holden	Commodore VB-VL	82-88
Holden / Toyota	Commodore VN/VP / Lexcen	89-93
Jaguar	XJ6	82-86
Mazda	929 / Luce	82-90
Mitsubishi	Magna TM/TN/TP / Sigma / V3000	85-90
Nissan	Skyline	83-88
Toyota	Crown / Cressida / Mark II	82-85
Toyota	Supra	82-90

People Movers

Make	Model	Year	Rating
Honda	Odyssey	95-00
Kia	Carnival	99-06
Toyota	Tarago / Previa / Estima	00-06
Toyota	Tarago / Previa / Estima	91-99
Mitsubishi	Starwagon / Delica Spacegear	95-98
Mitsubishi	Starwagon / Delica Spacegear	98-03
Mitsubishi	Starwagon / Delica Starwagon	87-93
Mitsubishi	Starwagon / L300	83-86
Toyota	Tarago	83-89

Commercial - Vans

Make	Model	Year	Rating
Ford	Transit	01-07
Volkswagen	Caravelle / Transporter	95-04
Ford	Transit	95-00
Ford	Falcon Panel Van	82-95
Toyota	Hiace/Liteace	96-04
Daihatsu	Handivan	82-90
Daihatsu	Handivan / Cuore	99-03
Daihatsu	Hi-Jet	82-90
Holden	Shuttle / WFR Van	82-87
Holden / Suzuki	Scurry / Carry	82-00
Toyota	Hiace/Liteace	82-86
Toyota	Hiace/Liteace	87-89
Toyota	Hiace/Liteace	90-95

Commercial - Utes

Make	Model	Year	Rating
Mitsubishi	Triton ML / MN	06-10
Ford	Falcon Ute BA/BF	03-08
Ford / Mazda	Ranger / BT-50	06-10
Mitsubishi	Triton MK	96-06
Nissan	Navara	05-10
Toyota	Hilux	05-10
Ford	Falcon Ute AU	00-02
Ford	Ford F-Series	82-92
Ford / Mazda	Courier / Bravo / Bounty	03-06
Ford / Mazda	Courier / B-Series / Bounty	98-02
Holden	Commodore VY/VZ Ute	02-07
Holden	Rodeo	03-08
Nissan	Navara	97-05
Toyota	Hilux	03-04
Ford	Falcon Ute	96-99
Holden	Commodore VU Ute	00-02
Holden	Rodeo	96-98
Holden	Rodeo	99-02
Toyota	Hilux	98-02
Holden	Commodore Ute VR/VS	94-00
Nissan	Navara	92-96
Ford / Nissan	Falcon Ute / XFN Ute	82-95
Holden	Commodore Ute VG/VP	90-93
Holden	WB Series	82-85
Holden / Isuzu	Rodeo / Pickup	82-85
Holden / Isuzu	Rodeo / Pickup	89-95
Kia	Ceres	92-00
Nissan	720 Ute	82-85
Nissan	Navara	86-91
Subaru	Brumby	82-92
Suzuki	Mighty Boy	85-88
Toyota	4Runner/Hilux	82-85
Toyota	4Runner/Hilux	86-88
Toyota	4Runner/Hilux	89-97

Compact SUVs

Make	Model	Year	Rating
Honda	CR-V	02-06
Subaru	Forester	02-08
Ford / Mazda	Escape / Tribute	01-06
Honda	CR-V	97-01
Kia	Sportage	98-03
Nissan	X-Trail	01-07
Subaru	Forester	97-02
Suzuki	Grand Vitara	99-05
Toyota	RAV4	01-06
Toyota	RAV4	06-10
Toyota	RAV4	94-00
Daihatsu	Feroza / Rocky	89-97
Daihatsu	Rocky / Rugger	85-98
Holden / Suzuki	Drover / Sierra / Samurai / SJ410 / SJ413	82-99
Suzuki	Vitara / Escudo	88-98

Medium SUVs

Make	Model	Year	Rating
Ford	Territory SX/SY	04-10
Holden	Captiva CG	06-10
Mitsubishi	Pajero NM / NP / NS	00-06
Nissan	Pathfinder / Terrano / Regulus	95-05
Toyota	Landcruiser Prado	03-09
Holden / Isuzu	Jackaroo / Bighorn	92-97
Nissan	Pathfinder / Terrano	88-94
Toyota	Kluger / Highlander	03-07
Toyota	Landcruiser Prado	96-03
Holden / Isuzu	Jackaroo / Bighorn	82-91
Holden / Isuzu	Jackaroo / Bighorn	98-02
Jeep	Cherokee XJ	96-00
Mitsubishi	Pajero	92-99
Mitsubishi	Pajero	82-90

Large SUVs

Make	Model	Year	Rating
BMW	X5	01-08
Ford	Explorer	01-05
Jeep	Grand Cherokee WG	99-05
Land Rover	Discovery	91-02
Nissan	Patrol / Safari	98-10
Land Rover	Range Rover	82-94
Nissan / Ford	Patrol / Maverick / Safari	88-97
Toyota	Landcruiser	98-07
Nissan	Patrol / Safari	82-87
Toyota	Landcruiser	90-97
Ford	Bronco	82-87
Toyota	Landcruiser	82-89

Protecting you in a crash

If all vehicle safety features were equivalent to the safest model, the number of fatal and disabling crash injuries could be significantly reduced.

Safety features that may significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in the event of a crash include:

Myths about vehicle safety

Myth: You can take more risks if you’ve got a vehicle with safety features – they will save you in a crash.

Fact: While safety features are more likely to increase your chances of surviving a crash, they don’t make you indestructible. Safety features won’t necessarily save you from death or serious injury, particularly at higher speeds or if you’re not wearing your seat belt.

Myth: A safe vehicle is more expensive.

Fact: Many reasonably priced vehicle models score very well in the safety ratings and better than some of the more expensive models.

Myth: Older vehicles tend to be bigger and heavier, and therefore safer.

Fact: Older vehicles have been shown from crash records to be less safe on average than newer vehicles, due to fewer safety features and less sophisticated design.

Features to assist avoiding a crash

An increasing number of vehicles are being equipped with safety features that help drivers avoid a crash and these should be considered when purchasing a used car. Some of these features are:

• Automatic braking
• Lane departure waring
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control
• Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
• Brake Assist

In deciding between different vehicles, or different models of the same vehicle, always chose the one with more of these features.

Decade of Action of Road Safety

Most of us know someone who has been affected by a road crash, either by being injured themselves, or through suffering a bereavement or injury to a family member or friend.

Every day, around the world, 3,500 people leave home and never return because they have been suddenly, violently killed in a road crash.

The United Nations General Assembly has set the goal for the decade: "to stabilise and then reduce the forecast level of road traffic fatalities around the world" by 2020. Millions of deaths could be saved as a result. The United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 is our opportunity to make our communities and streets safer wherever we live.

You can support this campaign by selecting a safer used vehicle by following the recommendations in this brochure.

How these safety ratings are calculated

Records from over 5 million vehicles in police-reported road crashes in Australia and New Zealand between 1996 and 2010 were analysed by Monash University’s Accident Research Centre. The ratings were calculated using an internationally reviewed method and are influenced by the vehicle’s mass, the structural design of the body, and the safety features fitted to the vehicle, such as airbags and types of seat belts.

Each of the driver protection ratings in the 2012 update has been recalculated based on the most recent crash data available so they are not comparable with the ratings published in previous years. Models of vehicles that cause lower injuries to other road users with which they collide, including other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, as well as providing excellent protection for their own driver, are awarded the “Safe Pick” label.

The score for each individual model can be compared against the ratings for all other vehicles.

The driver protection ratings are about the risk of death or serious injury to the driver of the vehicle in the event of a crash. The ratings are not about the risk of being involved in the crash in the first place, which is generally determined by a range of factors including driver behaviour, vehicle condition and the road environment.

Question: Won’t certain kinds of vehicles score a good rating because of the types of people who drive them or where they are driven?

These factors were taken into account as much as possible when the data were analysed. The ratings were adjusted for factors such as driver gender and age, type of road user involved, speed limit at the crash location, number of vehicles involved, crash configuration, and year and location of crash.

What's the difference between these ratings and the new car safety ratings?

New car safety ratings (eg ANCAP) are determined by crash testing vehicles in a controlled laboratory setting while the used car safety ratings in this brochure are calculated using data from millions of police reports on actual crashes involving a range of drivers and all types of driving conditions. 

Occupants of heavier vehicles in real-world multi-vehicle crashes typically fare better than those in lighter vehicles.  This is why ANCAP crash test results should not be compared among vehicles with large weight differences.  In many single-vehicle crashes, greater weight offers no safety advantage.  ANCAP crash test ratings relate to both occupant protection and the ability of the car to avoid a crash.  ANCAP has a separate rating for a vehicle’s ability to protect a pedestrian in a crash. 

The used car safety ratings listed in this brochure can be compared across all categories as they are derived from reports of actual on-road crashes and represent the ability of the car to protect its driver. 

The ‘Safe Pick’ vehicles further identify vehicles that provide the best protection for both their own occupants and other road users in a crash.

Any vehicle safety rating system can only provide an indication of the relative levels of protection between vehicles you can expect in the event of a crash.  Whether or not you die or are seriously injured in a crash also depends on how safely you drive your vehicle.

20 years of ratings

It is increasingly obvious from these Used Car Safety Ratings that, on average, newer models provide their drivers with better protection from injury in a crash.

This year marks 20 years since these ratings were first produced. Vehicle technology, build quality and safety design have all progressed enormously over that period. Features such as Electronic Stability Control, at least six airbags, and pre-tensioning seat belts are now almost universal in newer vehicles.

It is increasingly obvious from these Used Car Safety Ratings that, on average, newer models provide their drivers with better protection from injury in a crash. These improvements come from better structural designs, an increase in the fitting of safety features such as front, side, curtain and knee airbags, more advanced seat belt systems and vehicle interiors built with more energy-absorbing materials.

Another consistent trend is that there is significant variation within vehicle categories, even between vehicle models of the same age. Furthermore, some vehicle models, including recent ones, provide good protection for their drivers but present a high risk of injury to other road users in a crash. The Used Car Safety Ratings assist buyers to select vehicle models that provide the best protection for all road users including themselves.

These ratings are based on available data up until 2010. Later crashes have not been included. Occupant protection in smaller vehicles has improved significantly in recent years. Buyers considering a late model vehicle, particularly in the light and small categories, that is not listed in this brochure should check the ANCAP rating and aim at a 5 star performance – see www.ancap.com.au.

Where to find out more