Under their new programme - Safer Cars for Africa - the Global NCAP and AA South Africa recently tested about five compact and small cars for their crashworthiness. Among these five cars, two were Made-In-India models - the Toyota Etios Liva hatchback and the Datsun GO+ sub-compact MPV. Interestingly, the Toyota Etios Liva, which is known as the Etios Sprint in South Africa scored a 4-star safety rating for adult occupancy in the crash test conducted by the two agencies. On the other hand, the Datsun GO+ scored a disappointing 1-Start safety rating in the same category.
Global NCAP (new car assessment programme) and AA South Africa (Automobile Association of South Africa) launched the Safer Cars for Africa on November 22 in Cape Town. It's the first independent crash test assessment of some of South Africa's most popular compact and small cars. Apart from the aforementioned India-made models, the agencies also tested South Africa's best-selling car, the VW Polo Vivo, Renault Sandero and Chery QQ3. Global NCAP has provided assistance to launch similar programmes in South America, India and the ASEAN region, programmes which have led to the delivery of safer cars into those markets over the last five years.
Toyota Etios Hatchback scored 4-star in adult occupancy and 3-star in child occupancy
For this latest crash test, Global NCAP and AA South Africa tested the Toyota Etios hatchback which comes with dual front airbags as a standard feature. It was the 2017 production model and while in adult occupancy the car scored a 4-star rating, in child occupancy, the Etios scored a 3-star safety rating, both at a speed of 64 kmph. Interestingly, even last year, under the 'Safer Cars For India' programme, the Toyota Etios range had scored the same 4-star safety rating in Global NCAP crash test. Other safety features 4 channel ABS, ISOFIX child seat anchorage, dual front airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners.
Datsun GO+ scores 1-star in adult occupancy and 3-star in child occupancy
At the same time, the Datsun GO+ that was crash tested by the two agencies is a seven-seater sub-4 metre MPV that gets only one driver side airbag (optional). The GO+ was also the 2017 production model and while the car scored 1-star rating in adult occupant safety, in child occupant safety the GO+ was awarded 2 stars. Here too the crash test was conducted at 64 kmph speed. The Datsun GO+ doesn't get ABS nor does it come with ISOFIX child seat mounts.
While Toyota started exporting the Etios range to South Africa in 2012, Datsun has been exporting GO+ MPV to the African country since 2016.
