1 week ago
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A new five-star safety rating for Chinese brand Chery has drawn the spotlight on a potentially confusing aspect of ANCAP's criteria, after three SUVs of different sizes were allowed to share crash-test results.
A technicality in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) guidelines has allowed a $24,000 city-sized SUV to share its crash-test results with a much larger, three-row SUV of twice the price.
The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro small SUV was awarded a five-star safety rating last week, but it was allowed to use the physical crash test results of the larger Tiggo 7 Pro mid-size SUV from 2023.
It is the second model to do so after the larger-still, seven-seat Tiggo 8 Pro Max launched last year – which is more than a school ruler length longer than a Tiggo 4 Pro, yet has also shared its crash-test results with the Tiggo 7 Pro.
This is because all three vehicles are classified by ANCAP as ‘partner models', with a partner defined since 2018 but updated in 2022, as a vehicle which “has the same relationship to the originally tested vehicle as a variant (same brand) but has a different model name".
“All important structural elements related to safety performance must be the same as the originally tested vehicle. Where these differ, additional data is required.”
In addition, the ‘partner model’ cannot share the same crash-test rating if it is released more than two calendar years from the original assessment.
The guidelines allow the original crash-test result of the Tiggo 7 Pro to be shared with the Tiggo 8 Pro Max large SUV and the Tiggo 4 Pro small SUV.
This means each of the three models – each with distinct sizing and styling – share the same adult occupant and child occupant protection scores of 88 and 87 per cent respectively.
The only difference is that the Tiggo 8 Pro Max drops 0.19 points for rear whiplash protection compared to the other models.
| Tiggo 4 Pro FWD | Tiggo 7 Pro FWD | Tiggo 7 Pro AWD (discontinued) | Tiggo 8 Pro Max FWD | Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate AWD | |
| Length | 4351mm | 4513mm | 4513mm | 4720mm | 4720mm |
| Width | 1831mm | 1862mm | 1862mm | 1860mm | 1860mm |
| Height | 1662mm | 1696mm | 1696mm | 1705mm | 1705mm |
| Wheelbase | 2610mm | 2670mm | 2670mm | 2710mm | 2710mm |
| Weight (tare) | 1388kg | 1479kg | 1601kg | 1626kg | 1731kg |
| Engine | 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder | 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder | 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder | 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder | 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder |
ANCAP does draw boundaries around ‘partner model’ criteria, such as a 10 per cent variance in kerb weight and/or wheelbase, same physical engine size, a 50mm deviation in ride height, and similar occupant restraint systems.
However, by first testing a mid-size SUV, it has placed Chery in a unique position to stretch this 'partner model' definition to smaller and larger SUVs on either side of the middle model.
ANCAP also states "two-wheel-drive results (either front or rear) are not interchangeable with an all-wheel-drive variant without additional evidence (frontal MPDB [mobile progressive deformable barrier] test) due to the effect of the rear driveline".
Where the Tiggo 4 Pro and current Tiggo 7 Pro are both front-drive only, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max has an all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant that also shares the five-star rating, but an AWD version of the Tiggo 7 Pro was available at the time of testing and has now since been discontinued.
A Chery Australia spokesperson said the Chinese brand has provided further data – including conducting its own Tiggo 4 physical crash test in-house in China with ANCAP stickers – with further testing locally of active safety systems independently of the Tiggo 7 Pro, to ascertain the former's five-star rating.
"Chery fully supports ANCAP’s partner program, which allows for rigorous testing and assessment of models that share common safety elements," the spokesperson said.
"This program involves a comprehensive process, requiring Chery to provide ANCAP with extensive data, including CAD design drawings, final renders, crash test data (including dummy injury and restraint results), deformable barrier data (where applicable), as well as high-speed crash test videos, photos, and detailed technical information.
"In cases where a feature is not present or performance is expected to differ beyond established tolerances in the partner model, ANCAP conducts official testing to verify its effectiveness—such as advanced driver assistance systems in the Tiggo 4.
"Overall, Chery is supportive of ANCAP’s mission of continuously advancing vehicle safety standards and promoting consumer awareness to enhance road safety."
Meanwhile, ANCAP addressed the Tiggo 4 Pro and Tiggo 7 Pro being 'partner models', but did not answer questions raised by Drive about the Tiggo 8 Pro Max also sharing the same physical crash test.
"ANCAP recognises partner model vehicles, where key structural and safety performance features are common between related models produced by one manufacturer," the spokesperson said.
"Partner models are eligible to share star ratings when they fall within specified criteria, which are established in ANCAP’s “Application of Star Ratings” protocol.
"Information provided to ANCAP shows that the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and Chery Tiggo 7 Pro share the same platform and key structural elements, and ANCAP’s criteria for partner models were met.
"While the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and Tiggo 7 Pro may be marketed in different categories, they have very similar kerb masses, structure, seating and restraints – the key elements which determine crash performance."
It is understood the ‘partner model’ definition is designed to streamline the testing process given the large influx of new models from new and re-emerging brands coming to market, often to Australia first.
The definition also allows brands to roll out hybrid or all-electric variants of an internal combustion engine model, and share crash-test scores with additional examination.
As it is understood, a vehicle that arrives in Australia first, without a Euro NCAP score, will be high on ANCAP's priority list – if deemed relevant to a majority of potential customers.
Manufacturers can provide ANCAP with the new model to undergo testing, which requires up to seven vehicles, but if a brand chooses not to do so, the safety organisation – if it deems necessary – will purchase the stock for examination out of its own government-funded pocket.
This leaves ANCAP with potentially limited resources to cover a large number of new models coming to market, hence the utility of the expedited 'partner model' pathway.
While Chery is the latest brand to benefit from the streamlined ‘partner model’ crash test, it is not the only brand to do so.
The crash-test scores of the Isuzu MU-X and Ford Everest ute-based SUVs are derived from the related D-Max and Ranger respectively, however in these cases ANCAP conducted further testing to determine the overall results, and has not explicitly stated them as 'partner models'.
Of note, neither the Isuzu or Ford pair share identical crash-test scores, which is in contrast to the Chery SUV trio.
In assessing the Range Rover Sport, ANCAP also deemed it a ‘partner model’ to the larger Range Rover, but – again – there are differences in crash-test results both derived from Euro NCAP testing.
However, other brands and models have not made use of the ‘partner model’ stipulation, such as Mazda, which has differing scores for its CX-60 and CX-80 SUVs, despite sharing the same underpinnings, engines, and key components.
ANCAP’s five-star ratings for both Mazda SUVs are based on separate crash testing conducted by Euro NCAP, and vary in scores across all four testing 'pillars' – adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection and safety assist.
ANCAP also has dispensation for ‘corporate twins’ that are “identical to each other in all ways except for make and model name” and “may differ with minor styling changes such as front panels, grill and headlights, but are identical in all other regards including fitment of safety equipment”.
This appears to refer to models such as the new Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb wagons, which share their body shell but wear different lights, bumpers and exterior design details.
In the past, ANCAP has come under criticism for granting the 2022 Kia Stonic a five-star rating derived from the mechanically related – but distinctly different – crash test of the Rio hatch from 2017 due to both sharing the same certification documentation, a loophole that has now been closed.
The same year, it also slapped the Mitsubishi Express with a zero-star rating after testing the van locally under 2020 standards, despite the model sharing all but its badge with the Renault Trafic that notched a three-star result in Euro NCAP testing in 2015.
In the latter example, both models had different documentation, and that particular platform was never tested in Australia prior to the Express test, so there was no ANCAP score to test.
However, local ANCAP testing has previously uncovered differences between European-spec models and Australian-delivered examples, such as the Honda CR-V and ZR-V, and Suzuki Swift, which vary in safety equipment offered, but it is unclear why these models were under more intense scrutiny when overseas Euro NCAP testing already exists.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
