The Toyota Starlet has improved from zero to a four star rating for adult occupant protection in Global NCAP’s latest #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test results. This follows a safety upgrade to make six airbags a standard fit.
In May this year Global NCAP published a zero star adult occupant protection rating for the two airbag version of the Starlet, with three stars for child occupant protection. Manufactured in India and one of South Africa’s most popular cars, with more than 20 000 units sold, the model was equipped with driver and passenger frontal airbags and Electronic Stability Control as standard – but offered no side head protection airbags.
The Starlet was upgraded to six airbags as standard, including side curtain airbags, in a production update at the plant in India.
Global NCAP offered Toyota the opportunity to volunteer the six airbag Starlet for testing under Global NCAP protocols to demonstrate the benefits of the additional safety equipment. The manufacturer declined. Global NCAP decided to test the updated Starlet with its own funding.
The six airbag Starlet achieved four stars for adult occupant protection and three stars for child occupant protection.
Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer of Global NCAP, said:
“We welcome Toyota’s decision to upgrade the Starlet in South Africa, this four star result demonstrates what can be achieved when manufacturers make safety a priority. We encourage all manufacturers to adopt similar improvements and to fit life-saving equipment as standard in the markets they serve. Safety should never be reduced to an optional extra.”
Bobby Ramagwede, Chief Executive Officer of the Automobile Association of South Africa, said:
“The Automobile Association of South Africa welcomes this considerable improvement in the Global NCAP safety rating of the Toyota Starlet, going from an unacceptable zero-star rating to a commendable four-star result. Improving safety needn’t cost much nor affect the production of entry-level model ranges. The result, when manufacturers prioritise the safety of their customers, saves many lives and revives the image of the industry.
“This result serves as an example of how improvements to safety specifications on entry-level vehicles can instantly yield safer cars on our roads. We strongly encourage those local brands with recent poorer #SaferCarsForAfrica results to work with us on improving the safety of their affected entry-level models, ensuring that safety is prioritised over cost and proving that African lives matter.”
The crash test assessment found:
- The footwell area was rated as stable, while the bodyshell was found to be unstable and not capable of withstanding further loadings in the frontal test.
- In the side impact test, head protection was rated as good and chest protection was adequate. Abdomen and pelvis protection were good.
- In the side pole impact test, head protection was rated as good and chest protection was marginal. Abdomen and pelvis protection were good.
- In the frontal impact assessment, the head of the three-year old dummy made contact with the vehicle interior and chest protection was rated as low.
- In the side impact assessment, the head of the three year old dummy was exposed to impact.
About the #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign
The #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign, and similar campaigns by the GNCAP in other parts of the world, was created to champion the fair treatment of motorists in countries without mandatory vehicle crash test programmes.
It can happen that a vehicle manufacturer will offer a vehicle for sale in a country without mandatory safety testing, such as South Africa, which offers less safety equipment and lower structural protection than a similar vehicle in a country, like Germany or Japan for example, where there are very strict safety standards and crash test programmes.
Global NCAP is a UK registered charity working internationally to democratise vehicle safety in support of the UN Global Goals. Its work spans advocacy, assessment programmes and independent research with partnerships and award-winning campaigns in India, Africa, LATAM, the Middle East and the ASEAN region.
Additional resources
Read the full crash test report Toyota Starlet – 6 airbags – fact sheet – 2026
Watch the crash test video Toyota Starlet – 6 airbags Crash Test
Download the crash test images Frontal – Side – Pole