The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) has highlighted safety concerns over the Kia Sonet crossover models sold locally.
The entry-level Sonet was recently subjected to vehicle crash tests conducted by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP), where it received a one-star safety rating for adult occupant protection, and a three-star rating for child protection.
According to the AA, the vehicle demonstrated serious gaps in the safety protection offered to occupants, largely due to a lack of standard side head protection airbags (also known as curtain airbags).
In the official report, it was noted that the Sonet is fitted with electronic stability control as standard. However, it only comes with two airbags.
The crash test highlighted significant structural concerns with the crossover, including:
- The footwell area and bodyshell were unstable and not capable of withstanding further loadings.
- In the side impact test, poor chest protection limited the adult protection rating to one star, while abdomen protection was rated as adequate.
- The side pole test was not conducted because side head protection airbags are not fitted as standard.
- Child Occupant Protection: both child dummies received full protection in the dynamic test, but the absence of 3-point belts in all seating positions, no passenger airbag disabling switch and a low child restraint system (CRS) installation score resulted in a 3-star rating.
The AA noted that the Sonet is one of the more popular vehicles in South Africa, regularly selling over 800 units per month.
The CEO of the AA, Bobby Ramagwede, said that entry-level vehicles need to be held to a higher standard in South Africa.
“South African motorists should exercise extreme caution when purchasing a new or used entry-level vehicle,” he said.
“The recent series of crash tests has shown a worrying trend with entry-level models on sale in South Africa lacking adequate crash safety and, perhaps more worryingly, very few of the vehicles tested offering safety ratings similar to those of the same models on sale abroad.”
Ramagwede noted that even basic safety features can make all the difference in a serious crash.
“The tests also show the significant difference that basic safety features such as side-impact airbags and electronic stability control can make,” he said.
“These features offer a major safety boost to any vehicle and, in most cases, can be added with only a marginal increase in vehicle price.”
The CEO claimed that the apathy displayed by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with regards to addressing safety concerns was quite telling.
“We are awaiting meaningful actions to ranges of vehicles tested recently, be these in the announcement of additional safety added to the spec of the entry-level vehicle, the discontinuation of the entry-level model in the wake of the safer next-up model in the range, or in the case of major structural flaws, the consumer being availed of options that exist within other model ranges.”
Not the first car to be tested by the AA
The Kia Sonet is one of several cars that have been tested by the AA as part of its #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign, which was created to highlight the gap in safety between vehicles sold in Africa compared to other regions.
The self-funded tests are conducted by the AA and the GNCAP. The vehicles are purchased anonymously and transported to Germany.
Once there, the vehicles are subjected to a series of crash tests by Global NCAP scientists.
“[These vehicle crash tests] are, sadly, not conducted by the South African government or, in some instances, even by the manufacturer for models destined for developing markets such as South Africa,” said the AA.
One of the first test vehicles to make headlines in South Africa was the Hyundai Grand i10, which received a zero-star adult occupant safety rating.
Other vehicles that recently received sub-par safety ratings include the Toyota Starlet, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Chery Tiggo 7.
Hyundai and Chery later introduced new models with additional safety features to address consumer concerns.
“We welcome feedback from Hyundai regarding the Grand i10, Toyota regarding the Starlet and Corolla Cross, and Chery regarding the Tiggo 7 Pro, per recent announcements,” said Ramagwede.
“We cannot continue to put a price on a life.”
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