The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has named the Toyota Camry as its top safety performer of 2024, finishing ahead of the Mazda CX-80 and Zeekr X.
Each of the models achieved five-star ANCAP safety ratings assessed against current 2023-2025 test and rating protocols, with the top three performers determined using an overall weighting calculation.
Emphasis was given to physical crash protection with 40 per cent of the overall weighting calculation applied to adult occupant protection and 20 per cent to each of the remaining three assessment areas – child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection and safety assist.
The Camry (medium car, hybrid) secured the highest overall weighted ranking of all vehicle models rated by ANCAP in 2024, earning a score of 88.4 per cent.
“The Camry secured top spot in 2024, excelling with a score of 95 per cent for adult occupant protection – the highest AOP score of all vehicles assessed in 2024,” said Carla Hoorweg, Chief Executive Officer of ANCAP. “The Camry remains a stable and reliable choice with a safety pedigree that dates back over 13 years.”
Mazda’s CX-80 (large SUV, petrol/diesel/PHEV) achieved an overall weighted score of 87.6 per cent, having achieved healthy scores across all four assessment pillars.
“The Mazda CX-80 received the second highest adult occupant protection score of 2024 with 92 per cent. This was assisted by its gaining of full points in the side impact, far side impact, whiplash protection, and oblique pole crash tests,” said Hoorweg.
Rounding out the top three, and only marginally behind that of the CX-80, Zeekr achieved an overall weighted score of 87.4 per cent for its first Australian model, the Zeekr X (small SUV, electric).
“We saw a handful of new manufacturers enter the mix locally in 2024, and each of these, including Zeekr, have shown their commitment to bringing five-star cars to Australian and New Zealand consumers,” said Hoorweg.
Of the 23 vehicles rated by ANCAP in 2024, 11 were new models to the Australian market. With the exception of the Jeep Avenger, each achieved a five-star result.
Three-quarters (74 per cent) of all models rated in 2024 achieved the top five-star rating.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Suzuki Swift received a disappointing one-star safety rating, recording the lowest weighted score of the year at 56.6 per cent. The Hyundai i30 and Jeep Avenger each achieved three-star ratings, with weighted scores of 68.2 per cent and 68.4 per cent respectively.
“The new year presents an opportunity for manufacturers with upcoming new models to strive for a top ranking, and for models that didn’t achieve the strongest scores in 2024 to use this as an opportunity to enhance safety with future model iterations,” said Hoorweg.
