Words: Kyle Cassidy
Published 8 April 2026
ANCAP Safety has released its latest round of vehicle safety ratings, with a mix of new assessments and updated results across five popular models.
Headlining the announcement are fresh ratings for the all-electric Suzuki e VITARA and the new Audi Q3, alongside revised scores for the Audi A3, Cupra Leon and Nissan Qashqai.
The Suzuki e VITARA has secured a four-star ANCAP safety rating, with the battery-electric small SUV delivering solid performance across most key areas. However, its overall score was held back by a lower Adult Occupant Protection result, where testing returned a mix of GOOD to WEAK outcomes in the full-width crash test. The absence of a head-protecting centre airbag — designed to reduce injury in side-impact collisions — also counted against it.
In contrast, the newly introduced Audi Q3 achieved a full five-star rating under ANCAP’s latest 2023–2025 testing criteria, offering strong, well-rounded safety performance across all categories.
ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said the results highlight the level of consistency required to achieve top marks.
“It’s encouraging to see improvements in safety performance across the market, this latest rating achieved by the e VITARA is evidence Suzuki can produce a model that offers sound levels of safety performance,” she said.
“These outcomes show that higher levels of safety are within reach, and that continued focus on delivering consistent performance across all areas is key to achieving the highest rating.”
Elsewhere, updated ratings have been issued for three existing models following specification changes and reassessment.
The Audi A3 and Cupra Leon both retain their five-star ANCAP ratings, continuing to demonstrate strong safety credentials across all areas of testing.
Meanwhile, the Nissan Qashqai has been downgraded to a four-star rating. While it continues to perform well in child occupant protection, its performance in other key areas no longer meets the benchmark required for a five-star score under current criteria.
All vehicles were assessed against 2023–2025 testing and rating criteria.
| MAKE / MODEL | ANCAP RATING | ADULT OCCUPANT PROTECTION | CHILD OCCUPANT PROTECTION | VULNERABLE ROAD USER PROTECTION | SAFETY ASSIST |
| AUDI A3 | ★★★★★ (2025) | 86% | 80% | 76% | 75% |
| AUDI Q3 | ★★★★★ (2025) | 87% | 86% | 80% | 83% |
| CUPRA LEON | ★★★★★ (2025) | 88% | 86% | 82% | 82% |
| NISSAN QASHQAI | ★★★★ (2025) | 78% | 91% | 68% | 62% |
| SUZUKI e VITARA | ★★★★ (2025) | 77% | 87% | 79% | 71% |
