Small cars fail Global crash test

Not a single star for Renault's new Kwid.

Not a single star for Renault's new Kwid.

Published May 18, 2016

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Another batch of cars built in India, two of which are sold in South Africa and another that's said to be coming here, have failed to score even a single star in the latest round of Global NCAP crash tests.

The safety authority tested the Renault Kwid, Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Maruti Suzuki Eeco, Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Eon, all of which failed to score even a single star in the 64km/h frontal crash test.

Renault Kwid

While Renault is known for producing safe cars, its Laguna being the first car ever to score five stars in EuroNCAP tests, that philosophy clearly hasn't stretched to the new budget-beating Kwid crossover, which is under strong consideration for the South African market.

Global NCAP tested three versions of the Kwid and even after it tested the most evolved one, with an improved structure and an airbag (which is not fitted as standard), it failed to score even a single star. Even though the structure did not collapse under impact, testers said it was unstable and would not withstand further loadings.

However, unlike many of its counterparts, Renault has at least committed to making further improvements to the structure of the Kwid, after which the car will be retested by Global NCAP.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Another car with local relevance is the Celerio, which Suzuki SA sources from its Indian plant. Like the Kwid, the Celerio couldn't muster a single star but this situation is less clear-cut as the vehicle tested in India had no airbags, while all local models come with driver and passenger bags.

While Global NCAP attributed the result to a lack of airbags, meaning that local cars are sure to be safer, it also rated the bodyshell as “unstable” and unable to withstand further loadings. Either way, we will not have the full picture until the Global NCAP crash tests a car with airbags.

Mahindra Scorpio

Despite being a larger SUV, Mahindra's Scorpio - which is also sold in SA - failed to rise above the zero-star crowd although the Celerio situation applies here too as the crash test vehicle lacked the airbags that SA versions have.

Not that this vehicle's aging design and structure helped matters much as the testers put it: “The collapse of the structure combined with the lack of airbags explains the score for the adult occupant protection which means that there is high probability of life threatening injuries for at least one of the adult passengers.”

More of SA's small cars deemed unsafe

The latest round of testing followed previous crash tests that cast doubt over the safety credentials of other compact hatchbacks sold in SA.

The worst among these was the Datsun Go, with the car's structure collapsing so badly that testers said the fitment of an airbag, which was recently added as an option to the SA model, would not make much of a difference anyway.

Datsun Go crash test: Full story and video

The previous-generation Ford Figo and current VW Polo also failed to score a star, although the organisation put that down to a lack of airbags and insisted that the vehicles still have safe structures. Less safe, in this regard were the Hyundai i10 and Suzuki Swift, although Suzuki SA came to its car's defence, stating that our models are built to the “Latin American export specification”, which is good for three stars.

Are safer cars coming?

Whichever way the cookie crumbles Global NCAP remains highly concerned about the safety levels offered by many Indian-made cars:

“The results highlight the importance of the Indian Government's decision to mandate front and side impact crash tests from October 2017.

“Legislative action is needed to ensure that the minimum levels of occupant protection recommended by the United Nations are guaranteed for Indian consumers. But manufacturers don't have to wait for legislation and we urge them to act to eliminate all zero star cars from production as soon as possible.”

Shocking results across the board in latest Global NCAP crash tests. pic.twitter.com/GEfZGSRehW

— IOL Motoring (@IOLmotoring) May 18, 2016

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