2024 Used Car Safety Ratings: New cars 36% safer than 2002 models

The Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) has released its latest Used Car Safety Ratings, designed to deliver insights on the safest used vehicles within a modern context.

Designed to help consumers make informed choices, the ratings use comprehensive data to evaluate how well vehicles protect occupants, other road users, and prevent crashes.

The study analysed data from 9.4 million vehicles involved in crashes and 2.6 million injured road users across Australia and New Zealand from 1987 to 2022.

Results indicate a significant improvement in vehicle safety, showing a 36 per cent reduction in the risk of serious injury or fatality for drivers of 2022 models compared to vehicles from 2002.

A total of 534 vehicle models were rated on a scale of one to five stars for Overall Safety, a rating that combines assessments of Driver Safety, Other Road User Safety, and Crash Avoidance.

Among these, 110 vehicles received a five-star Overall Safety rating, while 54 vehicles earned the designation of ‘Safer Pick’ by scoring highly across all safety categories.

Sixteen of the top-rated ‘Safer Pick’ vehicles, listed below, earned five stars in every category, making them stand-out options for safety-conscious consumers.

These vehicles, available in the used market, are often priced under AUD $25,000, with some models available for less than AUD $10,000, making high-rated safety accessible to a broader range of consumers.

The 2024 ratings reflect steady improvements in vehicle safety over the past two decades, as all ‘Safer Pick’ vehicles were produced after 2004, with 91 per cent made after 2008. These findings highlight advancements in vehicle design, safety technology, and regulatory standards. For example, Electronic Stability Control has become a standard feature across many newer vehicles, improving occupant protection and crash prevention.

Australia’s light vehicle fleet has seen a 55 per cent improvement in overall safety since 1981, largely due to better Driver Safety features. Medium and small SUVs were shown to have higher ratings for Overall Safety than smaller car categories, attributed in part to their more recent production dates and upgraded safety technologies.

The report also highlighted safety challenges for commercial utes and people movers. Despite their larger mass, these vehicles often underperformed in occupant protection and present higher risks to other road users in collisions.

MUARC researchers stressed the value of crash avoidance features like lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking for these vehicle categories to help offset these risks.

Professor Stuart Newstead, MUARC Director, commented on the importance of these ratings, explaining that they empower consumers to make choices that contribute to both personal and community safety. “Selecting vehicles that perform well across Driver Safety, Other Road User Safety, and Crash Avoidance is crucial for reducing road trauma,” Professor Newstead stated.

The full 2024 Used Car Safety Ratings for Australia can be found here.