Skoda Octavia offers more than just a 5-star glean

Publish Date
Tuesday, 3 December 2013, 12:00AM
The Skoda Octavia is the latest vehicle to receive top marks from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP).

AA Motoring Services General Manager Stella Stocks says the lower-priced standard Octavia earned a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, but Skoda provides a big range of optional safety assist technologies (SAT) usually seen on much more expensive vehicles.

“With the Octavia, Skoda provides consumers with a good mid-sized vehicle choice that offers both economy and safety which the ANCAP results demonstrate.

“But it is fantastic to see that Skoda provides adaptive cruise control (ACC), autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive front lighting systems and fatigue detection as options for their customers.”

Ms Stocks says active safety assist technologies like those offered by Skoda can make a real difference by factually reducing the chance of crashing.

“The AA wants to see all vehicle manufacturers provide these sorts of SATs to motorists which will go a long way to reducing the risk of serious injury or death on New Zealand roads.”

Transport Agency Access and Use General Manager Celia Patrick says it is great news for Kiwi motorists that the range of affordable top safety-rated cars is continuing to grow.

"Crash statistics prove that drivers and passengers in five star-rated vehicles are much less likely to be seriously injured in a crash than occupants of lower rated vehicles. With today's safety technology five star ratings are increasingly become the norm, and we urge people to buy the safest vehicle they can afford.”

ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.

The full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings, other vehicle safety information and the specifications of the rated vehicles are available online at aa.co.nz or rightcar.govt.nz.

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