Whether it’s a Honda Odyssey, Audi A3, or Ford Ranger, getting behind the wheel of a vehicle with a five star safety rating is now easier to find thanks to the release of the latest Used Car Safety Ratings.
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said driving a car with a poor rating is not worth the safety risk.
"In one of our tests, the driver of the 5 star rated Mazda Ute would have walked away unhurt. The driver of the 2 star rated Toyota would probably have received severe head and brain injuries or even been killed," Mrs Pavey said.
KEY POINTS
- Many of the safest cars you can buy for under $10,000
- A driver of the worst vehicle rated in this list is 10 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than a driver in the safest
- 296 vehicles manufactured from 1996 to 2016 are rated
- Cars with 5 star rating are priced as low as $2,500 (Ford Mondeo – years 2007-15)
- Cars which received a one star rating for safety include the Hyundai Accent (years 00 -06) Holden Cruze (years 02 - 06) and Ford Fiesta WD (years 04 -08)
- Recent data shows 40% of those killed were in cars 15 years or older while 15% were in cars less than 5 years old
Monash University Accident Research Centre, in partnership with the NSW Centre for Road Safety, the NRMA and other members of the Vehicle Safety Research Group, analysed records from more than 8 million vehicles involved in road crashes and 2 million injured road users in Australia and New Zealand between 1987 and 2016 to produce the ratings.
Prices reflect 5 star rated vehicles listed on Redbook online and reflects the age and condition of the vehicle, and the variant of the model.
Large cars
Holden Statesman/Caprice WM/WN – year of manufacture 06-16 – sell for as low as $4,000 (Safer Pick)
Ford Falcon FG/FG-X – year of manufacture 08-16 – sell for as low as $5,900
Medium cars
Toyota Camry – year of manufacture 11-16 – sell for as low as - $9,400
Ford Mondeo – year of manufacture 07-15 – sell for as low as - $2,500
Subaru Liberty/Legacy/Outback – year of manufacture 09-14 – sell for as low as $6,800
Small cars
Audi A3 – year of manufacture 04-13 – sell for as low as - $3,100
BMW 1 Series E81/E82/E87/E88 – year of manufacture 04-13 – sell for as low as - $3,700
Volkswagen Golf VII – year of manufacture 13-16 – sell for as low as $9,600
Large SUV
Mazda CX-9 – year of manufacture 07-15 – sell for as low as $9,600 (Safer Pick)
Mitsubishi Pajero NT,NS,NW,NX – year of manufacture 07-16 – sell for as low as $9,200 (Safer Pick)
Nissan Pathfinder R51 – year of manufacture 05-13– sell for as low as $8,000 (Safer Pick)
Medium SUV
Mazda CX-7 – year of manufacture 06-12 – sell for as low as $6,100 (Safer Pick)
Mitsubishi Outlander/Peugeot 4007 – year of manufacture 06-12 – sell for as low as $4,800 (Safer Pick)
Toyota Kluger/Highlander – year of manufacture 07-13 – sell for as low as $8,200 (Safer Pick)
Small SUV
Vokswagen Tiguan – year of manufacture 08-16 – sell for as low as $6,800 (Safer Pick)
People Mover
Honda Odyssey – year of manufacture 04-09 – sell for as low as $4,100
Kia Carnival – year of manufacture 06-11 – sell for as low as $5,500
Commercial Vans
Hyundai iLoad – year of manufacture 08-16 - sell for as low as $8800 (Safer Pick)
Volkswagen Transporter – year of manufacture 04-15 - sell for as low as $5200
Ford Transit – year of manufacture 01-07 – sell for as low as $3200
Commercial Ute
Ford Ranger/Mazda BT50 – year of manufacture 11-15 – sell for as low as $7,300
Holden Colorado RC – year of manufacture 08-11 – sell for as low as $3,200
Ford Falcon Ute FG/FG-X – year of manufacture 08-16 – sell for as low as $5,200.
Download the Used Car Safety Ratings Buyer’s Guide 2018-19 and find out more about safer vehicles on the Centre for Road Safety website at roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au.
