New Chinese electric cars achieve five-star ANCAP safety rating: 2025 Smart #1 and Smart #3 get big boost in battle take on Cupra Born, BYD Atto 3 and MG 4 electric

Australia and New Zealand's independent assessor of vehicle safety, ANCAP, has awarded the Smart #1 and Smart #3 SUVs respective five-star safety rating.

The Smart #3 was tested on current 2023 protocols, but the Smart #1 was tested to 2022 crash test protocols given it went on sale in Europe when those earlier set of benchmarks were applicable.

ANCAP praised both vehicles, each is fitted with seven airbags and received a 90 per cent score for high levels of Adult Occupant Protection.

Neither dropped below 84 per cent for the other three categories: Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist.

ANCAP did note a ‘poor’ result in occupant-to-occupant contact in the oblique pole test in the #3 as the centre airbag between the front seats did not prevent contact between the heads of the driver and front passenger.

The Smart #3’s cyclist anti-door warning and motorcycle-detecting autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems were tested, with strong results shown in AEB motorcycle tests.

Poor performance was recorded for the lower speed overtaking motorcycle scenario.

ANCAP also noted that AEB reverse – the ability to detect pedestrians and autonomously brake when reversing – is not fitted as standard to either the Smart #1 or Smart #3.

It is a welcome result for the renewed, fully-electric brand, which relaunched globally last year as a joint venture between Geely and Mercedes-Benz.

Both have gone on sale in Australia this year, with the off-road capable #5 SUV to arrive locally in 2025.