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• Global NCAP and the AA have released the results from their most recent crash tests.
• The Mazda 2 and Nissan Almera both scored average results, but with concerns.
• Both cars showed seat failure at the end of the tests.
• For more motoring stories, visit Wheels24
The latest crash test results are in, with these having been conducted on the Mazda 2 and Nissan Almera. The tests, conducted by Global NCAP and the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa, form part of the bodies' quest of achieving #SaferCarsforAfrica.
According to results, the Mazda 2 achieved four and three stars for adult and child protection, respectively. The Almera scored three stars for the same criteria. Other notable comments made on these two vehicles were seat failure on both cars, with Global NCAP raising these concerns with each manufacturer as a matter of urgency.
At the moment, the #SaferCarsforAfrica project only tests frontal crash protection, but will add side-impact and pedestrian protection assessments in future evolutions of these tests.
Mazda South Africa says of its rating: "Mazda SA welcomes the crash test rating of the Mazda2 in the Global NCAP project. The Mazda2 achieved a four-star rating for adult occupant protection and a three-star rating for child occupant protection. This shows our commitment to our customers to enjoy the drive and feel safe on the roads.
"The Mazda2 results are ahead of most other products sold in this segment. Decisions on the potential introduction of additional preventative and collision safety features will follow the product enhancement lifecycle and take local market conditions and requirements into account."
Nissan SA says: "The safety of our customers is Nissan’s top priority and all of our vehicles meet safety regulations in all countries in which they are sold.
"The 3-star rating awarded to Almera by Global NCAP is competitive within its segment, reflecting the model’s many safety features including driver and passenger airbags and anti-lock braking.
"Nissan continues to introduce safety technologies and features into our global product range, and we actively encourage and support advancements in safety regulations for the benefit of our customers.
Comments by role players
Alejandro Furas, Secretary General: "Although the latest #SaferCarsForAfrica tests showed average results, we are concerned that both cars had failures in their driver seats, more severe in the Nissan than in the Mazda. Global NCAP calls on both car makers to review these failures as a matter of urgency.
"We would also call on them to improve the basic safety offered in these models as standard, adding Electronic Stability Control (ESC), pedestrian protection and side body and head airbags as soon as possible."
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Willem Groenewald, AA South Africa CEO: "#SaferCarsforAfrica is an important programme for the AA as we continue to push for better safety standards on vehicles for local consumers. The results of the fifth round of testing are encouraging, especially the four-star rating achieved by the Mazda 2.
"However, the results show there are still some safety deficiencies on vehicles available in South Africa and this should, again, serve as a marker to manufacturers and safety authorities of the need for improved basic safety features which should be offered as standard on all models available locally."
David Ward, Executive President of the Towards Zero Foundation: "It is troubling to see seat failures of the kind revealed in our latest #SaferCarsforAfrica tests. We would urge Mazda and Nissan to address these issues as a priority and, more generally, to significantly improve the safety features equipped on their models as standard. Consumers in Africa deserve the same levels of vehicle safety performance which are taken for granted in other parts of the world."
