Nissan Kicks and Toyota Yaris vehicles were given a five-star and a three-star rating respectively in reviews by the Taiwan New Car Assessment Program, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday.
The two models were reviewed this quarter as they were ranked the seventh and eighth most popular cars sold in Taiwan, the ministry said.
The program gave the Nissan Kicks a five-star rating after it scored 81 percent for adult occupant protection, 84 percent for child occupant protection, 81 percent for protection for vulnerable road users and 59 percent for safety assistance, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications
The Toyota Yaris was given three stars after scoring 76 percent, 31 percent, 81 percent and 59 percent in the respective categories, it said.
The Lexus NX and Honda Fit would be reviewed next, with results scheduled to be released by the end of March, it said.
The Tesla Model 3 would be tested in the fourth quarter next year, it added.
Asked why the Toyota Yaris was tested despite production stopping in June, Department of Public Transportation and Supervision director-general Lin Fu-shan (林福山) said that the ministry in 2021 selected eight car types for testing, with results of two types being released each quarter this year.
“In 2021, approximately 70,000 Toyota Yaris were sold and it was still in sale yards until September this year,” Lin said. “Moreover, Yaris are in high demand in the used-car market, so people can use the testing results as a reference.”
In previous surveys, the Toyota RAV4, Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota Corolla Altis and Ford Focus secured five-star ratings, while the Honda CR-V and Ford Kuga were given three stars.
Criteria used to evaluate car safety from next year to 2028 would be stricter and meet local demands, the ministry said.
“If a car type had a perfect score in collision tests under the current criteria, they would probably secure a three or four-star rating under the new criteria,” Vehicle Safety Certification Center executive director Chou Wei-kuo (周維果) said.
“As the criteria would change, vehicle types that have already been tested would be reviewed,” Chou said. “Those that were given five stars might not receive the same rating when they get tested again next year.”
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