Isuzu D-Max scores 5 star safety rating

The upgraded D-Max was introduced in Australian and New Zealand in late 2013 and the five star ANCAP safety rating applies to the D-Max 4x4 Crew Cab variants built from November 2013 and the 4x2 High-Ride Crew Cab variants built from November 2014. A separate four star ANCAP rating applies to all other variants.

The vehicle features dual frontal, side chest and side head airbags (curtains) as standard, as well as anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution and electronic stability control. In the ANCAP frontal offset crash, test driver chest and leg protection was acceptable, as was passenger chest and leg protection. All driver injury values were good in the side impact crash conducted by Euro NCAP.

ANCAP has recently announced changes to the criteria against which new cars are assessed, which will mean even safer cars. Annual increases to the star rating have been in play since implementation of the ANCAP Rating Road Map in 2011. The program has been able to produce half of its ratings from test data sourced from Euro NCAP, which has been invaluable to consumers.

According to ANCAP CEO Nicholas Clarke, “Improvements in vehicle safety design and development in the past few years have been swift and substantial - particularly in the realm of advanced safety assist collision avoidance technologies - and test programs the world over are adjusting their plans to match pace.

“The ANCAP Rating Road Map already takes some of these changes and advancements into account; however, given the rapid pace at which vehicle safety is moving, and the need for new car assessment programs (NCAPs) to acknowledge these advancements, ANCAP has revised and expanded its forward plan,” said Clarke.

The full report on Isuzu D-Max can be downloaded here.