A five-star car isn’t just about luxury, speed, or the latest gadgets — it’s about safety. While many buyers focus on price, performance, fuel efficiency, and comfort, choosing a five-star safety rated vehicle puts safety first and builds protection into every drive. When buying a new car, safety should never be an afterthought — it should be at the top of your checklist.
Why Safety Should Be Top of Your List
It’s easy to get swept up in popular opinions or flashy advertising, but when it comes to protecting yourself and your passengers, you need to rely on facts — not hearsay. That’s where ANCAP comes in.
What Is ANCAP?
ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) is Australia and New Zealand’s leading independent vehicle safety authority. It rigorously crash-tests vehicles and evaluates their real-world crash performance and safety assist technologies.
The results? A trusted five-star rating system that gives buyers clear, independent guidance when choosing a safe car.
What Does a Five-Star Car Rating Really Mean?
A five-star ANCAP rating isn’t just a number — it’s a potential lifesaver. According to ANCAP data:
“You are half as likely to be seriously injured or killed in a crash if you’re in a five-star rated vehicle compared to a three-star one.”
That’s a powerful reason to never compromise on safety. Whether you’re financing a car for business or personal use, safety should be your non-negotiable priority.
Keeping Your Staff and Workers Safe
If you’re a business owner building your fleet or purchasing vehicles for staff use, safety becomes even more critical. Supplying your team with five-star rated vehicles helps ensure their wellbeing while on the road — whether they’re delivering goods, attending job sites, or meeting clients.
Investing in safer vehicles is not only a responsible choice — it also helps reduce downtime, protects your reputation, and may even lower insurance premiums or workers’ compensation costs.
In short, prioritising safety is good for your people and your business.
How Are Cars Tested?
ANCAP uses internationally recognised crash test procedures and technology. Vehicles are subjected to multiple simulations that reflect common and deadly crash scenarios, including:
- A frontal collision with a car of similar mass
- A side impact at 90 degrees
- Pedestrian collisions
- Hitting a fixed object like a pole or tree
- A rear-end collision
Crash-test dummies are used to record impact forces and assess likely injuries. In addition to crash performance, ANCAP also assesses safety assist features such as:
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Blind Spot Monitoring
To achieve a five-star rating, vehicles must perform strongly across all test areas, not just one.
Five-Star Car Models To Fit Your Budget
If you are in the market to purchase a new vehicle you will be pleased to know that you don’t have to sacrifice safety for affordability.
Popular five-star rated vehicles include:
- Toyota Corolla – A trusted favourite known for reliability and efficiency
- Subaru Forester – A safe and practical SUV with solid safety credentials
- Mazda CX-5 – Stylish, fuel-efficient, and top-rated for protection
- Hyundai Tucson – A family-friendly SUV with great safety tech
To explore all your options, visit the official ANCAP website and search by make, model, and year.
Five-Star Car Finance
If you’re using car finance to purchase a vehicle — especially low doc car finance for business purposes — you’ll be pleased to know that you can invest not just in your mobility — but in your safety and the safety of others. Choosing a five-star ANCAP-rated vehicle gives you peace of mind, better protection for you and your team, and could even positively influence your car’s insurance costs and resale value. The AAA Finance team are here to help with all your car finance needs. For quick and easy finance solutions contact the AAA Team on 07 5493 1222!
Drive smarter / Drive safer / Drive five stars
