Toyota HiLux BEV stars in safety tests: Maximum ANCAP rating confirmed as Subaru Trailseeker and Uncharted EVs also score highly
Toyota’s first electric HiLux has secured the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, with the battery-powered ute joined by two new Subaru EVs in achieving top marks from Australia’s independent crash-testing authority.
The 2026 Toyota HiLux BEV extends the five-star safety rating already awarded to diesel versions of the HiLux, following additional ANCAP testing designed specifically to assess the safety of its high-voltage battery system and electrical architecture.
While diesel-powered HiLux variants received their five-star rating in late 2025, ANCAP conducted further frontal offset and oblique pole crash tests on the electric model to verify battery integrity and occupant protection in a crash. The testing confirmed the electric ute delivers comparable safety performance to its combustion-powered siblings.
READ MORE: Affordable ANCAP: Two budget buys and a famous EV name score five stars in the latest safety tests
READ MORE: Leapmotor B10 tops Zeekr 7X and Kia EV4 in latest ANCAP testing: Cheapest EV stars against more expensive opposition
READ MORE: Crash shock! Chinese-made EVs are Australia’s safest new cars says ANCAP
The HiLux range achieved scores of 84 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 89 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 82 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 82 per cent for Safety Assist.
ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg said the result was significant as alternative-powered utes continue to arrive in Australia.
“In an increasing market of alternative-powered utes, business and private buyers now have another option that balances their safety needs with their powertrain considerations,” she said.
The result is particularly important given the HiLux BEV’s strong fleet focus, with many government and corporate operators requiring a five-star safety rating as a condition of purchase.
Subaru also emerged strongly from the latest ANCAP ratings round, with its new Trailseeker and Uncharted electric SUVs both awarded five-star ratings.
The larger Subaru Trailseeker scored 89 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 86 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 80 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 82 per cent for Safety Assist.
The smaller Subaru Uncharted closely followed with scores of 88 per cent, 86 per cent, 80 per cent and 82 per cent respectively.
ANCAP said both Subaru ratings were derived from testing and technical assessments of related Toyota electric vehicles the bZ4X and C-HR+, supported by additional crash testing of the Trailseeker and engineering analysis to confirm comparable safety performance.
The Uncharted was not crash tested as aprt of the process
At the other end of the spectrum, BMW’s new ICE 1 Series hatchback and 2 Series Gran Coupe sedan received four-star ANCAP ratings after narrowly missing the five-star threshold for Adult Occupant Protection, recording scores of 78 per cent against the required 80 per cent benchmark.
All scores were based on 2023-25 criteria rather than the latest 2026 update.
