photo toyota hilux ev oblique pole a
Hilux BEV And Subaru EVs Nab Five Stars; BMWs Miss
ANCAP has handed out some shiny stars and a couple of polite reprimands. The Toyota Hilux BEV and two new Subaru electric SUVs have earned five stars, while the BMW 1 Series and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe limped away with four.
The Hilux BEV did not coast to victory on charm alone. ANCAP put it through frontal offset and oblique pole tests to probe battery integrity and high voltage safety under severe impact. The result: the electric Hilux performs on a par with its diesel siblings, so every Hilux variant except the Rugged X now carries the top rating. Translation for fleet buyers and tradies: you can order an EV without gambling on safety.
Subaru Keeps Things Solid
The Subaru Trailseeker and Uncharted also scored five stars. Their results lean heavily on shared engineering with a related model, but ANCAP ran extra crash checks to confirm the electric cousins behave the same way in a crash. In short, more electric SUVs hitting the market that do not compromise occupant protection.
Where BMW Stumbled
The BMW 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe managed respectable four-star ratings. Both showed strong crash avoidance tech, but they came up short in the frontal crash arenas. Tests flagged an elevated risk of chest injury in the offset and full-width frontal impacts, and dash structures presented possible upper leg injury risk in one test. Both models scored 78 percent for adult occupant protection, just under the 80 percent threshold for a fifth star. The Gran Coupe also faced an extra side impact check to account for structural differences.
For anyone who delights in the tiny differences between star counts, the takeaway is simple. Manufacturers are keeping pace with electric powertrains, but marginal shortcomings in structural or restraint performance still tip the balance from five stars to four. The testing follows ANCAPs 2023 to 2025 criteria and underlines that safety is still the thing that separates very good from excellent.
Full technical breakdowns for each model are published by the testing authority for those who enjoy poring over percentages and injury metrics.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
