Jeep has joined its competitors at the top of the vehicle safety ranks with its latest Cherokee SUV due for release in New Zealand next month.
The 2-litre diesel all-wheel drive Jeep Cherokee has been awarded a 5-star safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) announced today.
The Cherokee is the first Jeep model to receive a 5-star rating by the organisation. In 2012 the Jeep Wrangler (Sport, two door) and Jeep Compass (4x4 variants) earned 4-star safety ratings along with the Jeep Grand Cherokee in December 2011.
AA Motoring Services General Manager Stella Stocks says Jeep has been part of the New Zealand landscape for a number of years, but has lagged behind its main competitors in terms of the safety features it offered.
“While Jeep has lifted its game in the safety stakes, it’s really just catching up to its rivals to reach a spot all mainstream brands should occupy,” Ms Stocks says.
“However, the Cherokee has done a great job of adopting safety assist technologies (SATs) we have come to expect as standard.”
The Cherokee is fitted with a full suite of airbags and SATs that include roll stability, trailer stability, tyre pressure monitoring and daytime running lights as standard.
“It would be great to see Jeep take the next step by making some of its optional SATs such as standard autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, reversing collision avoidance and lane support systems available on standard models.
“While these are available as additional options for customers, I’d like all manufacturers to provide these life-saving SATs to everyone rather than just those who are prepared or able to pay extra.”
Also announced today are 5-star safety ratings for the Skoda Rapid already available and the Nissan Pathfinder hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) which is expected to be released in New Zealand later this year.
Transport Agency Access and Use General Manager Celia Patrick says the NZTA was working to improve the safety of New Zealand’s vehicle fleet as part of the Government’s Safer Journeys strategy and it was great news that the range of top safety-rated cars was continuing to grow.
"Crash statistics show that occupants of 5-star rated vehicles are much less likely to receive life-threatening injuries in a crash than occupants of lower rated vehicles. With today's safety technology 5-star safety ratings are increasingly become the norm, and we urge people to buy the safest vehicle they can afford.”
ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.
The full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings, other vehicle safety information and the specifications of the rated vehicles are available online at aa.co.nz(external link) or rightcar.govt.nz(external link).
Jeep Cherokee crash test.
For more information contact:
Stella Stocks
General Manager – Motoring Services
New Zealand Automobile Association
T. +64 9 966 8908
M. +64 21 772 242
or
Andy Knackstedt
Media Manager
New Zealand Transport Agency
T. +64 4 894 6285
M. +64 21 276 3222
The New Zealand Automobile Association is an incorporated society with over one million members. It represents the interests of road users who collectively pay over $2 billion in taxes each year through fuels excise, road user charges and GST.
