Car safety body ANCAP introduces new ratings
ANCAP set to introduce new-generation safety ratings for 2026.
Australia’s leading independent automotive safety organisation ANCAP is poised to introduce strict new safety testing protocols in 2026 with the aim of helping consumers choose safer cars.
The changes are part of the Australasian New Car Assessment Program’s (ANCAP’s) tri-annual re-examining of its star rating criteria, with the organisation saying its new 2026-2028 protocols further strengthen the rigour and relevance of its tests.
Effective from January 2026, the new approach re-organises ANCAP’s safety assessment process and protocols based on the Haddon Injury Prevention Matrix which examines what happens before, during and after a crash.
ANCAP’s updated criteria aims to strengthen how the organisation evaluates the safety of new cars across four key areas: Safe Driving, Crash Avoidance, Crash Protection and Post-Crash.
Developed in collaboration with Euro NCAP, ANCAP said the new approach would ensure Australians and New Zealanders continued to benefit from the world’s most advanced crash testing and assessments.
ANCAP Chief Executive Carla Hoorweg said the organisation’s new ‘Stages of Safety’ approach provided a structure that could adapt to future technological developments, including automated driving.
Among the changes, some of which have been made specifically in response to consumer feedback, active driver assistance systems will be rewarded for smooth, intuitive operation as well as technical performance.
Electrically-operated door handles, which are an Increasingly common feature on modern vehicles and which often sit flush with bodywork when not in use, will also be assessed to ensure they remain operable after any crash.
Additionally, electric cars will be scored on their ability to isolate the high-voltage battery after a serious crash, ensuring the vehicle is safe to touch for occupants and first responders.
Vehicles will also be scored on their ability to notify first responders in the event of a crash. More than 40 percent of all new vehicles sold in Australia in 2024 featured technology capable of automatically connecting with emergency services following a crash, known as eCall.
Noting that post-crash response time plays a critical part in crash survival, ANCAP’s new protocols will place greater emphasis on the availability and performance of these eCall systems.
More on-road testing will also be conducted to better track the real-world capability of safety technology as part of aligning ANCAP testing with consumers’ experience. This on-road evaluation will examine how well the vehicle’s technology reads and responds to road conditions.
“Our role is to continually push for improvements in all areas of vehicle safety, and our 2026 protocols reflect that, Ms Hoorweg said.
“The outcome will be better protection of vehicle occupants and those around them, through the active prevention of crashes, superior protection in the event of a crash, and improved post-crash management.”
The four assessment areas evaluated from 2026, known as the Stages of Safety, will each be scored out of 100 points and will be expressed as a percentage for consumers seeking information beyond the simple star rating system.
Minimum thresholds will continue to apply for each stage – determining the overall star rating.
Learn more about ANCAP’s new car safety testing protocols
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