Safety ratings of South Africa’s cheapest cars

In its 2022 entry-level vehicle safety report, the Automobile Association (AA) has revealed which of South Africa’s cheapest cars have acceptable, moderate, and poor safety ratings.

A total of 38 vehicles were judged by the AA, all of which cost under R270,000.

These vehicles were assessed based on their standard safety features, but the structural integrity of the driver/passenger compartments was not considered, said the AA.

Based on this info, the vehicles were classified into one of three categories: Acceptable safety, Moderate safety, and Poor safety.

“In terms of true safety points attained, points of 20 or less are considered as having ‘poor’ safety,” said the association.

“Safety points between 20 and 50 can be considered as having ‘moderate’ safety, and safety points of 50 and above can be considered as having ‘acceptable’ safety.”

Vehicle classification

The below infographic provided by the AA shows where 38 of South Africa’s most affordable autos rank in terms of their equipped safety systems (click to enlarge).

The vehicles surveyed were evaluated against the number of active and passive safety systems they have when shipped from the factory, including ABS, electronic stability control (ESC), and airbags.

Points were awarded for each feature and additional points were given where vehicles have already been tested under the Global NCAP’s #SaferCarsforAfrica campaign.

Of the 38 vehicles under review, 34 come with ABS, 33 are equipped with driver and passenger airbags, seven have ESC, one has side airbags, and none has curtain airbags.

“The inclusion of vehicle safety features on entry-level vehicles is improving with the majority of vehicles in this category offering moderate to acceptable safety features,” said the AA.

“The fact that so many vehicles offer moderate or acceptable safety is extremely encouraging and indicates that manufacturers are taking the presence of critical vehicle safety equipment seriously. This is a good trend, and we hope to see even fewer vehicles in the poor category in the years ahead.”