Five-Star Isn’t What It Used To Be: Why ANCAP “Datestamps” Matter — And Where the 2024 Triton Stands
If you’re shopping for a ute in New Zealand, you’ll see a lot of “5-star ANCAP” badges. But here’s the catch: not all five-stars are created equal.
ANCAP (the Australasian New Car Assessment Program) tightens its test rules every few years, which means a vehicle tested years ago faced an easier exam than one tested today. ANCAP actually stamps each rating with the year it was tested — and that year matters. ANCAP
What changed recently?
From 2023, ANCAP added tougher, more real-world checks to its program. These include things like child-presence detection, escape after submergence, night-time pedestrian and cyclist AEB scenarios, motorcyclist detection, stricter driver-monitoring, and broader crash-avoidance tests. In short: it’s harder to earn five stars now than it used to be. Chasing CarsGoAuto
Triton: five stars, under the new rules
The all-new Mitsubishi Triton was the first dual-cab ute assessed under ANCAP’s current (2023–2025) criteria — and it scored five stars. That’s a strong signal the Triton’s safety tech and structure are built to today’s tougher expectations, not yesterday’s. ANCAP
Why some popular utes can still show five stars (even if tested years ago)
ANCAP ratings carry a “TESTED” datestamp and remain valid for six years. After that, the rating expires and newly built vehicles of that model become “unrated” unless they’re re-assessed to the latest protocols. That’s why a ute tested in (say) 2019 can still legitimately display a five-star badge today — because the rating is still within its six-year validity window — even though the standard it met is older and less stringent. ANCAP’s own guidance is clear: look for the newest datestamp you can. ANCAP
Example: Toyota Hilux models rated in 2019 show a datestamp of 2019 with the rating listed to expire in Dec 2025 on ANCAP’s official page. That’s perfectly within policy — but it also illustrates why consumers should check the year next to the stars, not just the stars themselves. ANCAP
Rightcar (NZTA) echoes the same point for Kiwi buyers: ANCAP ratings have a short life — up to six years — precisely because the rules keep getting stricter. Comparing a vehicle tested years apart can mislead if you ignore the datestamp. rightcar.govt.nz
So… is the current arrangement misleading?
It can be, if you compare the stars without the context. A five-star badge from 2019 and a five-star badge from 2024 don’t reflect the same bar. That’s why ANCAP puts the year on the label and advises buyers to prioritise vehicles with newer datestamps. In plain English: the year next to the stars is just as important as the stars. ANCAP
Where this leaves Kiwi ute shoppers
- Check the ANCAP page for the model you’re considering and note the Rating Year/Datestamp and Rating Expiry. Don’t rely on the badge alone. ANCAP
- Prefer newer datestamps where you can — they reflect harder tests and broader real-world scenarios. ANCAP
- If you want a ute that’s already been proven against today’s criteria, the 2024 Triton has done the work under the current 2023–2025 protocols. ANCAP
Why we’re talking about this
There’s been industry discussion about the cost of rapidly redesigning long-running models to meet new-protocol five-star thresholds immediately. We’re not pointing fingers — this is a complex market reality. Our role is simply to help buyers make informed, safety-first comparisons using official sources and the latest testing criteria. (ANCAP is independent and non-regulatory; it exists alongside regulation to influence safer consumer choice.) ANCAP
Quick FAQ
Is a 2019 five-star ute “unsafe”?
– No — it met the five-star bar of its day. But that bar is now higher, with more advanced active-safety checks. A 5 star in 2020 might be a 4 star today. That’s why the datestamp matters. Chasing Cars
Do ratings eventually expire?
-Yes. ANCAP ratings carry a “TESTED” datestamp and are generally valid for six years. After that, newly built vehicles of that model become “unrated” unless they’re re-assessed. ANCAP+1. Because of that window, you’ll still see some of NZ’s most popular long-running utes proudly wearing a five-star badge today — even though those stars were earned under earlier, easier protocols. It’s within the rules… but it’s yesterday’s exam. Always check the datestamp and give preference to the latest criteria (2023–2025). ANCAP+1
Which ute has five stars under the current rules right now?
– The 2024 Mitsubishi Triton — first dual-cab ute tested to the 2023–2025 protocols — and it achieved five stars. ANCAP
What we recommend
- Compare the datestamp, not just the stars.
- Test-drive the Triton to experience a ute built (and rated) to the latest safety benchmarks.
- If you’re cross-shopping other models, bring the ANCAP pages to your appointment — we’ll go through the datestamps with you.
- Five stars isn’t timeless — as ANCAP raises the bar, and safety standards evolve: a ute that scored five stars then might only earn four stars today. Look for the ANCAP ‘TESTED’ datestamp to compare like-for-like.” ANCAP+1
“If you want a ute that’s already proved itself against today’s tougher benchmarks, the latest Triton holds five stars under the current 2023–2025 protocols.”
To learn more contact Rangiora Mitsubishi Today.
