Renault Kiger Scores 4 Stars In Global NCAP Crash Test

It launched as the Nissan Magnite's alter ego - but the Renault Kiger has its own identity for sure. And coming on the heels of last year's good 4-star performance by the Renault Triber MPV, the Kiger has also managed a solid 4 stars. And in fact it beats the overall individual score of the Triber and even the Magnite at 12.34 points of a maximum 17. For Renault this is a far cry from its initial results: Renault Kwid - Zero Stars (2016) Kwid - 1 Star (2016), Duster - Zero Stars (no airbags 2017), and 3 Stars (Driver airbag, 2017), Lodgy - Zero Stars (2018). But it is in-line with last year's Renault Triber crash test that saw it also get 4 Stars. David Ward, President of the Towards Zero Foundation said, "As we pass the #SaferCarsforIndia fifty test milestone, it's important to recognise the progress that has been made. Automakers are rising to the challenge set by Global NCAP."

Also Read: Honda City And Jazz Crash Tested, Both Get 4 Stars

On child protection it is a similar 2-star performance as the Nissan Magnite. And the car was tested with child seats strapped in by seatbelts, not Isofix. Similar scores, the fact that they been crashed at the same time, use the same platform, are built on the same production line, do not mean the twin cars are identical. Like the Triber, the Kiger's body shell also received an unstable rating. This has to do with chassis construction at points like the door sill for instance So there are differences between the two cars even though they share a platform.

Also Read: Nissan Shows Big Improvement In Crash Safety; 4 Star Result For Magnite

Alejandro Furas, Secretary General, Global NCAP told carandbike, "There are some parts of the structure we have noticed differences. For example, the lower bit or basically the side structure and lower beam area, both cars are different in terms of the performance. The way they behaving from the frontal crash, they show a little bit of a difference but what will be the case on the side impact? We don't know which one's going to be better." The other weird difference between the two? While neither offer Isofix child seat mounts as standard - the Kiger actually does have them on the base variant. But their top tether fitment catch (at the back of the rear seat) was covered by the seat's fabric. This meant that an Isofix seat could not be used in the test, and a belted seat was used. That resulted in the score reducing for child safety.

Commenting on this achievement Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO & Managing Director, Renault India Operations said, "This is a proud moment for Renault in India, as Kiger was developed and produced in India, for Indian customers first, before we took it to the world. The 4-Star rating by GNCAP reiterates our commitment to bringing technologically advanced products which are safe yet trendy." He further added, "Our GNCAP achievements on both Kiger and Triber are a testament to our strong commitment towards offering products that can deliver the highest global standards of safety, accessible to Indian customers."

Global NCAP is expected to tighten its India test protocol to include side impact testing in the second half of 2022. It is likely that side impact testing will also be carried out. Meanwhile the safety watchdog has welcomed recent plans from the Indian government to introduce more safety equipment as standard requirement in passenger cars.