Toyota Yaris 2021 gets five-star ANCAP rating: The price you pay for safety!

It seems you get what you pay for. While the new Toyota Yaris may be more expensive than ever before, it’s also the safest city car.

The new baby Toyota has scored a maximum five-star safety rating from the Australiasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), despite a tougher testing regime for 2020.

There are two major changes for this year in order to earn ANCAP’s top score. Firstly, the frontal offset impact has been increased and secondly, the active safety features are now tested in more detail.

On both fronts the Yaris did well, passing all four of ANCAP’s key criteria with top scores. Adult occupant protection was 32.97 points out of a possible 38 (or an 86% score), child occupant protection was 42.97 out of 49, safety assist was 13.95 out of 16, and vulnerable road user protection was the lowest, but still 42 out of 54 (or 78%).

The safety assist score was particularly good for the Toyota, with the Yaris’ systems (which include autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping assist) being marked as “good” by ANCAP.

Rhianne Robson, ANCAP communications boss, said the score was a good sign for consumers as it shows car makers are elevating safety standards inline with the stricter crash testing program.

“The Yaris introduces some of the most sophisticated passive and active safety systems – including dual centre airbags and AEB with Turn Assistance which are features that are being seen for the first time in 2020,” she said.

“While COVID-19 has resulted in a slight delay to testing and release of our first 2020 ratings, these ratings re-establish market and consumer expectations for 5 stars regardless of market segment or intended use.

“With the new challenges set by ANCAP from 2020, it is extremely pleasing to see manufacturers achieve good results against these increasing standards, and take responsibility by prioritising safety to provide their customers with the safest vehicles they can.”