Two to Four Stars for Renault Kiger
The Renault Kiger has received a four-star rating for adult occupant protection and three stars for child occupant protection in Global NCAP's latest #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test results.
This marks a significant improvement from the last version of the Indian-made Renault Kiger that Global NCAP tested. That model came with two airbags as standard, no ISOFIX or electronic stability control (ESC) and was accordingly rated two stars for adult and one star for child occupant protection.
Shortly after Global NCAP selected that model for testing, Renault updated the Kiger with six airbags and ESC as standard and voluntarily submitted the model for repeat testing by Global NCAP.
The safety improvements speak for themselves. With six airbags as standard, ESC, ISOFIX anchorages and pedestrian protection, Global NCAP is pleased to release the much improved ratings for the Renault Kiger.
“It’s satisfying to see the safety improvements Renault has introduced with the updated Kiger in South Africa. We welcome their positive engagement and hope that this approach now becomes a trend across the industry,” said Global NCAP CEO Richard Woods.
Woods said that it “demonstrates what can be achieved when a manufacturer seeks to prioritise safety” and why six airbags must become a standard requirement.
How the two models compare
For the six-airbag Renault Kiger, the frontal test found the footwell area and bodyshell to be rated unstable and unable to withstand further loadings. This was also the case for the two-airbag model while driver chest protection was found to be marginal and passenger chest protection was adequate.
The side impact test for the updated model saw a point deducted as one door opened during the test. Head, abdomen and pelvis protection, however, were rated as good and chest protection was adequate - an improvement from the two-airbag model which found head and chest protection to be weak, abdomen protection to be adequate and pelvis protection to be good.
In the side pole impact test of the six-airbag model, head and pelvis protection were good, abdomen protection was adequate and chest protection was marginal. This test couldn’t be conducted for the two-airbag model because side head protection airbags were not fitted as standard.
Focusing on child occupant protection, the frontal test of the six-airbag model saw the head of the three-year-old dummy contact the vehicle interior and the chest showed high decelerations. Meanwhile in the side impact test, head exposure brought all of the three-year-old's side impact points to zero.
For the 18-month-old dummy, Global NCAP found full protection in both the frontal and side impact tests.
In comparison, the two-airbag model did not have ISOFIX which is the international standard system for attaching a child safety seat directly to a passenger car's chassis, without needing to use the vehicle's seatbelt. It also did not have 3 point belts in all seating positions. Renault recommended fitting child restraints with the adult seatbelt - and forward facing for the three-year-old - which does not comply with Global NCAP best practice. The dummy's head struck the vehicle interior with high neck loads and limited chest protection.
On pedestrian protection, the six-airbag Renault Kiger met regulation UN127 and complied with Global NCAP's ESC and seatbelt reminder (SBR) requirements.
For vehicles to score the highest star ratings in Global NCAP testing, pedestrian protection is a requirement as are side pole impact assessments.
“Reviving” the image of the industry
Bobby Ramagwede, CEO of the Automobile Association of South Africa, said the body “welcomes this considerable improvement” in the Global NCAP safety rating of the Renault Kiger, pointing to the rise of a “concerning two-star rating to a commendable four-star result”.
Highlighting the impact of the #SaferCarsForAfrica programme, Ramagwede looked to the recently tested Toyota Starlet which also saw its rating improve after safety upgrades were made to the model. The improvement was even more significant for the Toyota Starlet, with adult occupant protection rising from zero to four stars.
The results, Ramagwede said, prove that the crash testing programme is “indeed yielding real change” and “saving many lives” on South African roads.
“The result, when manufacturers prioritise the safety of their customers, saves many lives and revives the image of the industry. We commend the French brand on voluntarily submitting the Kiger for testing and strongly encourage those local brands with recent poorer results to work with us on improving the safety of their affected entry-level models, proving that African lives indeed matter.”
