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The worst result was for the 1990-96 Daihatsu Mira (pictured), while the 2004-07 VW Golf was the safest. Photo Gallery
Carsguide team Australian-built family sedans from Toyota have topped the list of locally-manufactured five-star cars in used-car crash safety ratings.
And the VE Commodore was given just three stars. The latest Used Car Safety Ratings, taken from Monash University's Accident Research Centre (MUARC) crash survey awarded five stars to the Camry and Aurion on models built from 2006 until 2008.
The results show that almost one in three vehicles have a "poor" or "very poor" crash test result. The worst result was for the 1990-96 Daihatsu Mira, while the 2004-07 VW Golf was the safest.
The 1999-2002 Ford Fairlane/LTD, Holden's Statesman/Caprice and the 2003-5 Mitsubishi Magna/Verada line-ups all rated four stars. Three-star ratings were also awarded to the 2002-08 BA/BF Ford Falcon, the Holden Statesman/Caprice range from 1994 to 1998 and the 2002-07 Holden Commodore VY/VZ range.
The results also suggest smaller cars have improved in recent years, with the 1996-200 Volkswagen Polo scoring five stars and the 2005-2008 Holden Barina rating four stars. The ratings list showed that (excluding light-commercial utes) every vehicle class has at least one vehicle with an "excellent" five-star rating and of the 199 vehicles examined, more than a third scored either good or excellent.
The survey rates occupant safety, as well as how other road users (cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and other drivers) are affected in a crash, based on Australian and New Zealand injuries suffered by 5.4 million people from 1987-2008.
FIVE STAR "excellent"
Audi A4 01-08
BMW 5 Series 96-03
BMW X5 01-08
Chrysler Neon 96-99
Ford Explorer 01-05
Ford Transit 01-08
Mazda 6 02-07
Mazda MX5 Roadster 98-05
Mercedes Benz C-Class 00-07
Mercedes Benz M-Class 98-05
Mitsubishi Nimbus 99-03
Mitsubishi Pajero 00-06
Peugeot 307 01-08
Saab 900/9-3 94-02
Saab 9000 86-97
Subaru Liberty/Legacy/Outback 03-08
Subaru Forester 97-02 Toyota Aurion 06-08
Toyota Camry 06-08
Volkswagen Golf/Jetta 04-08
Volkswagen Polo 96-00
Volvo S40/V40 97-04
ONE STAR "very poor"
Daewoo Espero 95-97
Daewoo Tacuma 00-04
Daihatsu Feroza/Rocky 89-97
Daihatsu Rocky/Rugger 85-98
Daihatsu Charade 93-00
Daihatsu Mira 90-96
Ford Festiva 94-01
Holden Commodore Ute VR/VS 94-00
Holden/Suzuki Scurry/Carry 82-00
Holden/Suzuki Drover/Sierra 82-99
Holden/Suzuki Barina/Swift 89-99
Hyundai Excel/Accent 95-00
Hyundai Getz/TB 02-08
Kia Ceres 92-00
Nissan Micra 95-97
Nissan NX/NX-R 91-96
Proton Wira 95-96
Subaru Impreza 93-00
Suzuki Vitara/Escudo 88-98
Toyota 4Runner/Hilux 89-97
Toyota Landcruiser 90-97
