The made-in-India Renault Kiger has scored four stars in the Global NCAP crash tests for Africa. The result is a significant improvement in the crash assessment since the last time when the subcompact SUV scored only two stars. Notably, the Kiger has not been tested by Bharat NCAP for India yet.
Global NCAP had previously crash-tested the pre-facelift Kiger in 2022 with two airbags. The SUV had scored four stars in adult occupant protection and two stars in child occupant protection. However, the Global NCAP has awarded a 4-star rating for adult and 3 stars for child occupant protection in South Africa under the latest tests.
The Global NCAP, in its observation, said the footwell area and bodyshell were unstable and unable to withstand further loadings in the frontal offset test. In the side impact test, one door opened during the test, resulting in a point deduction. The independent safety body added that the head, abdomen and pelvis protection were good and chest protection was adequate.
Meanwhile, head and pelvis protection were rated as good, and abdomen protection was adequate and chest protection was marginal in the side impact pole test.
With respect to child occupant protection, the frontal offset test saw the head of the three-year-old dummy come in contact with the vehicle’s interior and the chest showed high decelerations. In the side impact test, the head exposure brought all of the three-year-old's side impact points to zero. The 18-month-old dummy showed full protection in both the frontal and side impact tests, Global NCAP observed.
The Kiger for India comes with 21 safety features as standard including six airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, TPMS, Hill Start Assist, and more. The SUV also gets three-point seatbelts for all passengers along with seatbelt reminders, brake assist, ISOFIX anchorages, rear parking sensors, follow-me-home headlamps, fatigue sensor, and more.
The Renault Kiger is due for a comprehensive upgrade for India next year. The subcompact SUV will move to the Renault Global Entry Platform (RGEP), bringing revamped underpinnings to accommodate a more powerful turbo-petrol engine as well as a factory-fitted CNG version.
