Turns out that one is statistically safer than the other — but not by much, and there are a few reasons for this
by Sam D. Smith
January 23, 2025 at 18:15
- Data from ANCAP says that EVs score proportionally higher than ICE vehicles.
- However, the difference between the two isn’t that large and is influenced by other factors.
- ANCAP reasons that most EVs are newer, and will also be priced higher than ICEs.
If you’re on the fence about picking your next new car, safety is likely a significant consideration. And if you’re thinking about switching to an EV from an ICE, you may wonder just how much safer (or riskier) electric cars are over their combustion counterparts. It’s precisely this question that the folks over at ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) have been trying to answer, and the results may be surprising.
Armed with data from their own crash tests, ANCAP has ruled that, yes, EVs score proportionally higher on crash tests than ICE vehicles. But that comes with a caveat: namely, the operative phrase being “proportionally higher.”
Read: These Two Cars Managed To Earn A Shocking Zero-Star Safety Rating
Put simply, there are 57 EVs that have been tested by ANCAP, with only six of those falling short of the maximum score. But when it comes to ICEs, the pool is larger: of 117 combustion-powered cars, 18 fail to get full marks.
While statistically there are more five-star EVs than five-star ICE cars that have been tested (around 89 percent vs 85 percent), the difference isn’t that great. There are a few other factors to consider too. Firstly, most electric vehicles are relatively new models. Newer cars equals newer safety tech, which can often swing it in these tests. In addition, most of the EVs that are tested feature a higher MSRP, and will naturally come loaded to the rafters with crash protection.
Meanwhile, fighting in the ICE pool are cheaper entry-level cars that have fallen short of ANCAPs tests, with the Mahindra Scorpio, MG5 (zero stars each), and Suzuki Swift (one star). Three star ICE cars like the Hyundai i30 Sedan, MG3, Jeep Gladiator, and Jeep Wrangler failed to help the cause.
Meanwhile, there are no zero-, one-, or two-star awarded EVs on sale in Australia and New Zealand. The lowest you can get are four star examples, specifically the BMW i4, Hyundai Kona Electric, Fiat 500e, Opel Mokka and Citroen C4 (the last two only on sale in NZ). The sole three-star EV on sale down under is the Jeep Avenger.
Speaking to Drive, ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said that the disparity seen between EVs and ICEs isn’t that big when it comes to overall safety. But when it comes to price, with EVs being more expensive, it just doesn’t make sense to sell a low-scoring electric car: “I would say there’s also probably a factor of play there where… how are you going to go from a sales perspective if you’re bringing a one-star EV into Australia – it’s an expensive product.”
