Overview
- Global NCAP’s Safer Cars for Africa test published Wednesday found the India-manufactured, South Africa‑spec Kia Sonet scored 1 star for Adult Occupant Protection and 3 stars for Child Occupant Protection.
- Test engineers rated the footwell area and bodyshell unstable and recorded poor chest protection for the driver in the side impact, findings that sharply reduced the adult safety score.
- The specific car tested was an export-spec Sonet fitted with only dual front airbags and without Electronic Stability Control as standard, which meant ESC did not contribute to the score.
- Child protection tests gave full dynamic protection to both an 18‑month and a 3‑year dummy, but the COP score was lowered by the absence of three-point belts in all seats and no passenger airbag deactivation switch.
- Global NCAP chief Richard Woods publicly criticised the practice of selling lower-safety variants in Africa and urged makers and regulators to require side head-protection airbags and uniform minimum safety equipment.