ANCAP says there’s no excuse for budget-focused auto brands not achieving five-star safety ratings, with Suzuki singled out as an example of where more could be done.
A five-star safety rating doesn’t have to mean excessive showroom prices, even for makers of more cost-conscious models, according to the heads of safety authorities ANCAP and Euro NCAP.
Automakers such as Suzuki have no excuse for not achieving five-star safety ratings, according to ANCAP boss Carla Hoorweg, who said safety systems aren’t too expensive for budget models, while Euro NCAP says ‘dual ratings’ help manage higher costs.
“What we tend to see is if a manufacturer really wants to achieve five stars, they will do it within the price point they’re trying to do it,” Ms Hoorweg told media when asked by CarExpert if the tech requirements to achieve a five-star ANCAP rating are too high.
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While Suzuki’s latest release, the e Vitara electric SUV, has a four-star Euro NCAP rating, the ANCAP CEO’s comments follow a couple of Suzuki models receiving only one-star ratings in Australia.
This includes the new-generation Swift hatchback, launched in 2024 with a one-star rating, since upgraded to three stars with additional tech late last year. The previous-generation Swift had received a five-star rating, apart from the entry-level variant, which was rated four stars.
The Suzuki Fronx was launched in 2025 and remains rated at one star after its ANCAP test saw a rear seatbelt mounting fail, allowing a test dummy to become unrestrained and hit its head on the back of the front passenger seat.
Suzuki Australia was asked by CarExpert for comment, but has not yet responded.
Ms Hoorweg was asked whether cost-conscious buyers are being shortchanged on safety because automakers cannot achieve better results without higher showroom prices, which may make them uncompetitive with rivals.
“I think Suzuki’s certainly got models that have done better than others, so we know it’s possible for them [to achieve five stars] from an engineering perspective,” Ms Hoorweg said.
“I think that’s the case for a lot of manufacturers, where you see a suite of vehicles and some have done really well and some haven’t; the ones that have done really well have been the ones where they are really dedicated to achieving that star rating.
“We see it time and time again: the ones who put in the work can do it.”