Utes score poorly in crash tests

Three budget utes — two from China and one from Malaysia — have scored poorly in the latest crash tests done by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. The Great Wall Motors SA220 and V240 utes from China scored just two stars out of five. The third ute, the Malaysian-built Proton Jumbuck, did worse, scoring just one star.

All three models received severely deformed cabins when crashed into a wall at 64km/h to replicate ANCAP's off-set head-on collision. The utes also had poor impact protection for both the driver and passenger crash test dummies, which recorded critical head and leg injuries.

ANCAP council chair and VicRoads manager vehicle safety, Ross McArthur, said the results for the China utes were particularly disappointing because they were new models.

The SA220 and the Jumbuck lack airbags and other safety features that are expected as standard equipment by new car buyers, McArthur said. “The V240 has dual airbags but these failed to protect the driver and passenger from injury in our crash tests,” he said.

Proton axed its $16,990 Jumbuck several weeks ago in anticipation of the arrival of a new model. However, Proton Australia managing director, John Startari, said the ute was not withdrawn because of the impending crash test result.

The ute, which has been in the market for about seven years, had reached the end of its production life, he said.“But a new Jumbuck is a fair way off,” Startari said.

GWM is one of the first Chinese carmakers to begin a big push on to the Australian market with low-cost vehicles. Both the SA220 and V240 were launched in June, with prices starting at $19,990.

Chinese-built vehicles have a history of poor crash test performances. A four-wheel drive Jiangling Motors LandWind model famously scored zero in similar German crash tests in 2005.

To check out the latest results, go to www.ancap.com.au