As another year passes, another crop of vehicles forfeit their safety ratings from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) – Australia and New Zealand's independent authority on crash test safety.
It is a surprisingly large group and includes a number of vehicles that are still popular on the Australian market.
Vehicles receive a rating of between zero and five stars based on their safety credentials, with five being the benchmark safety score.
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Testing protocols depend on the year they are tested, with requirements updated regularly to encourage automakers to adopt better safety technology.
As a general rule, cars are tested according to four categories: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist.
A rating is only valid for six years, and once that period passes vehicles built after the expiry date are sold as ‘unrated’. The lifecycle of a car generation is generally eight years, so it is common for a vehicle to lose its rating across its lifetime before the next-generation is introduced.
That said, a spokesperson for ANCAP said it was important that buyers purchased vehicles with the latest crash test safety rating.
"ANCAP’s recommendation for buyers is to look for a vehicle with the highest safety rating possible, with an ANCAP “TESTED” datestamp of no older than six years," the spokesperson said.
"The "TESTED" year (datestamp) listed alongside each ANCAP star rating denotes the rating year requirements a vehicle was assessed against, and ensures consumers are comparing vehicles rated to similar test criteria.
"ANCAP encourages manufacturers to upgrade the safety specifications of vehicles with expired ratings, and bring them forward for testing against today’s safety criteria."
So, with that in mind, here are the vehicles with expired ANCAP ratings, and those on track for their ratings to expire before the end of 2024.
Models currently on sale with expired ANCAP safety ratings
Data based on ANCAP Safety website
| Model | Previous star rating | Expiry date | Next generation expected |
| Alfa Romeo Stelvio | Five | 1 January 2024 | 2025 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | Five | 1 January 2023 | 2026 |
| Audi Q2 | Five | 1 January 2023 | Electric-only from 2026 |
| Audi Q5 | Five | 1 January 2024 | 2025 |
| BMW iX3 | Five | 1 January 2024 | 2025 |
| BMW X3 | Five | 1 January 2024 | 2025 |
| BMW X4 | Five | 1 January 2024 | Electric-only from 2026 |
| Citroen C3 | Five | 1 January 2024 | Discontinued in Australia in 2024 |
| Fiat 500 | Five (variants fitted with ESC), Four (variants fitted without ESC) | 1 January 2023 | 2026 |
| Ford Mustang | Three | 1 January 2024 | Current-generation released in 2024 |
| Foton Tunland | Three | 1 January 2024 | 2025 |
| Jaguar E-Pace | Five | 1 January 2024 | Production ending December 2024 |
| Jaguar F-Pace | Five | 1 January 2024 | Production ending December 2024 |
| Kia Picanto | Four | 1 January 2024 | Unconfirmed |
| Land Rover Discovery | Five | 1 January 2024 | 2025 |
| Land Rover Range Rover Velar | Five | 1 January 2024 | Electric-only from 2025 |
| LDV G10 | Three | 1 January 2023 | Unconfirmed |
| LDV V80 | Three | 1 January 2023 | Unconfirmed |
| Mahindra Pik-Up | Three | 1 January 2023 | 2025 |
| Mazda 2 | Five | 1 January 2023 | Unconfirmed |
| Mazda CX-3 | Five | 1 January 2023 | Unconfirmed |
| Mazda MX-5 | Five | 1 January 2024 | 2026 |
| Mercedes-Benz V-Class | Five | 1 January 2023 | 2026 |
| Mercedes-Benz Vito | Five | 1 January 2023 | Unconfirmed |
| Mini Cooper | Four | 1 January 2023 | Current-generation released in 2024 |
| Mini Countryman | Five | 1 January 2023 | Current generation released in 2024 |
| Mitsubishi ASX | Five | 1 January 2023 | Unconfirmed |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | Five | 1 January 2024 | Unconfirmed |
| Mitsubishbi Pajero Sport | Five | 1 January 2023 | 2025 |
| Nissan Navara | Five | 1 January 2023 | 2026 |
| Peugeot 5008 | Five | 1 January 2023 | 2025 |
| Renault Kangoo | Four | 1 January 2023 | Unconfirmed |
| Renault Koleos | Five | 1 January 2024 | Unconfirmed |
| Skoda Karoq | Five | 1 January 2024 | 2025 |
| Skoda Kodiaq | Five | 1 January 2024 | 2025 |
| Suzuki Vitara | Five | 1 January 2023 | 2025 |
| Toyota LandCruiser Cab Chassis | Five | 1 January 2024 | Current-generation released in 2024 |
| Toyota LandCruiser Prado | Five | 1 January 2023 | Current-generation release in November 2024 |
| Volkswagen Arteon | Five | 1 January 2024 | Discontinued for 2024 |
Models currently on sale with ratings expiring at the end of 2024
Data based on ANCAP Safety website
| Model | Current star rating | Expiry date | Next generation expected |
| Audi A6 | Five | December 2024 | 2025 |
| Audi A7 | Five | December 2024 | 2025 |
| Audi Q3 | Five | December 2024 | 2025 |
| BMW X5 | Five | December 2024 | 2025 |
| Genesis G70 | Five | December 2024 | Unconfirmed |
| Hyundai Nexo | Five | December 2024 | 2026 |
| Jaguar I-Pace | Five | December 2024 | Discontinued |
| Lexus ES | Five | December 2024 | Unconfirmed |
| Mazda 6 | Five | December 2024 | Unconfirmed |
| Mazda CX-8 | Five | December 2024 | Discontinued |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | Five | December 2024 | Discontinued from 2026 |
| Nissan Leaf | Five | December 2024 | Discontinued, next-generation expected in 2026 |
| Peugeot 508 | Five | December 2024 | Discontinued for Australia |
| Toyota Corolla | Five | December 2024 | 2026 |
| Volkswagen Touareg | Five | December 2024 | 2025 |
| Volvo S60 | Five | December 2024 | Discontinued |
| Volvo V60 | Five | December 2024 | Unconfirmed |
| Peugeot Partner | Four | December 2024 | Current-generation released in 2024 |
| Suzuki Jimny | Three | December 2024 | Hybrid, electric by 2030 |
| Hyundai i30 | Five | December 2024 | 2026 |
| Jeep Compass | Five | December 2024 | 2026 |
| Kia Stonic | Five | December 2024 | 2026 |
| LDV D90 | Five | December 2024 | 2025 |
| LDV T60 | Five | December 2024 | Unconfirmed |
| MG ZS | Four | December 2024 | 2025 |
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