- Kia Sonet receives a one-star rating for adult protection
- GWM Jolion receives two-star rating for adult protection
- Recent #SaferCarsForAfrica crash tests reveal a worrying trend of sub-standard safety in entry-level vehicles across various price categories
South Africa’s entry-level vehicles continue to perform below international safety standards, with two more vehicles announced this week showing less-than-desired results from their #SaferCarsForAfrica crash tests.
The Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) on Wednesday awarded the entry-level version of the GWM Jolion a two-star crash test rating, while the range-entry Kia Sonet received a disappointing one star. Both models demonstrated serious gaps in the safety protection offered to occupants, driven largely by a lack of standard side head protection airbags (curtain airbags) in both vehicles.
Says Bobby Ramagwede, CEO of the AA: “South African motorists should exercise extreme caution when purchasing a new or used entry-level vehicle, as 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.”
“The tests also show the significant difference that basic safety features such as side-impact airbags and electronic stability control can make. 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.”
Ramagwede’s views are echoed by Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer of Global NCAP, who says: “It is unacceptable that global manufacturers continue to sell cars in Africa with safety standards they would never offer in markets like Europe. The Kia Sonet’s one-star result and the GWM Haval Jolion’s two-star result show how far the industry still has to go. Side head protection airbags should be standard on every new car, in every market. African motorists deserve the same life-saving protection as drivers in the rest of the world.”
Haval Jolion – Two stars adult protection, three stars for child protection
The Haval Jolion was tested with four airbags – driver and passenger front and side body airbags – no airbags for head protection were present. The model is fitted with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard.
The vehicle’s crash test results revealed:
- The frontal impact showed good protection to the head, neck and chest. Knee protection was marginal.
- Side movable barrier test showed good protection.
- The side pole test was not conducted because side head protection airbags are not fitted as standard.
- ESC is fitted as standard and meets Global NCAP requirements.
- Child Occupant Protection: both child dummies received full protection in the dynamic test, but the lack of proper marking and no passenger airbag disabling switch resulted in a 3-star rating.
Kia Sonet – One star for adult protection, three stars for child protection
The Kia Sonet, like the Jolion, is fitted with ESC as standard, but features just two airbags. The test of this model also highlighted significant structural concerns. Its crash test results revealed:
- 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 Jolion and the Sonet are serious players in the monthly Naamsa scorecard, with sales numbers of the Jolion range averaging approximately 1200 units per month this year, alongside the Sonet with a significant 800 unit per month billing.
“The apathy being shown by local OEMs regarding the remedying of past test results is also 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.
“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. We cannot continue to put a price on a life,” concludes Ramagwede.
The AA and GNCAP’s #SaferCarsForAfrica programme have conducted a significant number of self-funded crash tests in the past year as part of their ongoing commitment to the fair treatment of South African and African motorists.
For these tests, the #SaferCarsForAfrica programme anonymously purchases two versions of each model that it crash-tests and transports them to Germany. There, the vehicles are subjected to a series of crash tests by Global NCAP scientists that 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.
Note to editors
Global NCAP is a UK-registered charity working internationally to democratise vehicle safety in support of the UN Global Goals. Between 2014 and 2026, Global NCAP completed more than 100 safety assessments.
These have acted as an important catalyst for improving the safety of Indian and African cars. Global NCAP has launched a newsletter, IMPACT, to share information about developments across the global road safety community.
Additional resources
Haval Jolion
Read the full crash test report – GWM Haval Jolion – fact sheet – 2026
Watch the crash test video – GWM Haval Jolion Crash Test
Download the crash test images – Frontal – Side
Kia Sonet
Read the full crash test report – Kia Sonet – fact sheet – 2026
Watch the crash test video – Kia Sonet Crash Test
Download the crash test images – Frontal – Side