The Renault Kiger has improved its safety rating from a concerning two stars to a commendable four stars for adult occupant protection, with three stars for child occupant protection after volutarily submitting the revised version to Global NCAP #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test results.Global NCAP initially selected the Indian-made Kiger for testing when it was offered with two crash bags as standard, without ISOFIX or electronic stability control. That version received two stars for adult protection and one star for child occupant protection.
Shortly after the selection, Renault updated the Kiger with six crash bags, ESC and ISOFIX as standard, and voluntarily submitted the updated model to Global NCAP for testing.
The voluntary re-test revealed a significant improvement in both adult and child occupant protection. The updated Kiger now includes six crash bags as standard, ESC, ISOFIX anchorages and pedestrian protection.
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Global NCAP's crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection for all models, as well as ESC. Pedestrian protection and side pole impact assessments are required for vehicles scoring the highest star ratings.
The assessment for the latest six-airbag Renault Kiger found that in the frontal test, the footwell area and bodyshell were rated unstable and unable to withstand further loadings. In the side impact test, one door opened during the test, resulting in a point deduction, though head, abdomen and pelvis protection were good and chest protection was adequate. In the side pole impact test, head and pelvis protection were good, abdomen protection was adequate and chest protection was marginal.
In the frontal test, the head of the three-year-old dummy contacted the vehicle interior and the chest showed high decelerations. In the side impact, head exposure brought all of the three-year-old's side impact points to zero. The 18-month-old dummy showed full protection in both frontal and side impact tests. The car met pedestrian protection regulation UN127 and complied with Global NCAP's ESC and seatbelt reminder requirements.
Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer of Global NCAP, said it was satisfying to see the safety improvements Renault has introduced with the updated Kiger in South Africa. He welcomed the manufacturer's positive engagement and expressed hope that this approach now becomes a trend across the industry. He said the result demonstrates what can be achieved when a manufacturer seeks to prioritise safety, and shows why six crash bags must become a standard requirement.
Bobby Ramagwede, CEO of the Automobile Association of South Africa, welcomed the considerable improvement in the Global NCAP safety rating of the Renault Kiger, going from a concerning two-star rating to a commendable four-star result. He said the updated Indian-built Kiger proves that the #SaferCarsForAfrica programme is indeed yielding real change and saving many lives on South African roads.
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Ramagwede noted it is also a reminder to both the manufacturer and the consumer that improving safety needn't cost much nor affect the production of entry-level model ranges. He said the result, when manufacturers prioritise the safety of their customers, saves many lives and revives the image of the industry. The AA commended the French brand on voluntarily submitting the Kiger for testing and strongly encouraged those local brands with recent poorer results to work with the association on improving the safety of their affected entry-level models, ensuring that safety is prioritised over cost and proving that African lives indeed matter.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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