Updated safety ratings for most cars and other light vehicles in New Zealand have been published on the Rightcar website from today – to help Kiwis make safer choices when purchasing vehicles.
The updated 1- to 5-star safety ratings, which indicate how much protection a vehicle provides people in a crash, apply to the vast majority of used cars, SUVs, utes and other light vehicles on our roads.
Based on the latest independent analysis of real-world crash data from New Zealand and Australia, the safety ratings of around 900,000 light vehicles in the New Zealand fleet have changed compared to their 2022 star-safety ratings.
“No one expects to crash, but everyone makes mistakes – and when this happens safe vehicles play a major role in preventing deaths and serious injuries,” explains NZ Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi Senior Manager Road Safety Fabian Marsh.
“Many people are unaware that the safety of different vehicles – both used and new – can vary greatly, or that in a crash they are twice as safe in a 5-star safety rated car than in 1- star safety rated car.
“So, as we look ahead to Christmas and summer holiday journeys, we urge Kiwis to visit Rightcar – to check the latest safety rating of vehicles they own or are thinking of buying,” Mr Marsh says.
