Best ANCAP safety ratings of 2019: Tesla Model X and Model 3 beaten by Mercedes-Benz CLA

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has released its best safety ratings of 2019, with the Mercedes-Benz CLA mid-size sedan narrowly beating Tesla’s Model X large SUV and Model 3 mid-size sedan for top honours.

The CLA achieved an overall weighted score of 90.2 per cent (the average result of ANCAP’s four testing categories), while the Model X followed closely behind with an 89.6 per cent effort.

“Well done to the CLA for being named the standout performer,” said ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin. “It received a healthy five-star score, performing exceptionally well in the areas of Child Occupant Protection (92%) and Vulnerable Road User Protection (91%), where it achieved the highest scores of all vehicles rated this year.

“The Model X received a record-equalling high score of 98 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, with full points awarded for the protection of the driver in all four of the full-scale crash tests – frontal offset, full-width, side impact, and oblique pole.”

One of the Model X’s siblings, the Model 3 sedan, finished third with a score of 89.4 per cent, which Mr Goodwin said was partly thanks to its strong suite of advanced driver-assist systems, dubbed Autopilot in Tesla marketing speak.

“Both the Model 3 and Model X achieved the highest Safety Assist scores recorded to date at 94 per cent – well ahead of all others rated this year,” he said.

Of the 40 new models issued safety ratings by ANCAP in 2019, 33 – or 82.5 per cent – got a highly coveted five-star result.

A list of the best performers by category for the year can be found below.

Best ANCAP safety ratings of 2019: