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The India-made Renault Kiger has achieved a four-star rating for adult occupant protection and a three-star rating for child occupant protection in the latest Global NCAP crash tests. The result comes under the organisation’s Safer Cars for Africa programme and represents an improvement over an earlier assessment of the Kiger’s two-airbag version.
The vehicle selected for the latest evaluation was manufactured in India for the South African market. It was equipped with six airbags, electronic stability control and ISOFIX child-seat mounting points as standard. Global NCAP awarded the SUV 25.20 points out of 34 for adult occupant protection and 30.21 points out of 49 for child occupant protection.
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Renault Kiger Adult Occupant Protection Results
In the adult occupant protection assessment, the Renault Kiger secured 25.20 points out of a possible 34, earning four stars. The evaluation included frontal and side-impact crash tests designed to examine the level of protection offered to occupants in different collision situations.
During the frontal offset crash test, the driver's head and neck received good protection. However, chest protection was rated marginal. The driver's thigh protection was also assessed as marginal because of the possibility of contact with structures behind the dashboard fascia. Protection for the driver's lower legs was rated adequate.
For the front passenger, the head and neck received good protection, while chest protection was rated marginal. The assessment also identified differences in thigh protection between the two sides. These results indicate that the vehicle provided a reasonable level of protection in several areas, although some aspects of frontal occupant safety require improvement.
One of the significant concerns highlighted by Global NCAP was the structural performance of the vehicle. The footwell area and bodyshell were rated unstable during the frontal impact assessment. The testing agency also stated that the bodyshell was unable to withstand further loadings. This finding is important because a vehicle's structural integrity plays a major role in protecting occupants during serious accidents.
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Side Impact and Pole Impact Performance
The Renault Kiger also underwent side-impact assessments as part of the latest crash-test programme. In the side movable deformable barrier test, the SUV scored 13.716 points. Protection for the head, abdomen and pelvis was rated good, while chest protection was assessed as adequate.
However, Global NCAP noted that one of the vehicle's doors opened during the side-impact test. This resulted in a deduction in the overall assessment. The observation also highlights the importance of evaluating door retention and passenger-compartment integrity during a collision.
The SUV was additionally assessed in a side pole impact test. In this evaluation, head and pelvis protection were rated good. Abdomen protection was considered adequate, while chest protection was rated marginal.
These results show that the Kiger delivered different levels of protection across the tested body regions. While several areas received positive assessments, the marginal chest protection and unstable structural rating remain important points for buyers to consider.
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Child Occupant Protection Gets Three Stars
For child occupant protection, the Renault Kiger received three stars after scoring 30.21 points out of 49. Global NCAP used child crash-test dummies representing an 18-month-old child and a three-year-old child to assess the performance of the recommended child restraint systems.
The 18-month-old dummy received full protection in both the frontal and side-impact tests. However, the results for the three-year-old dummy raised concerns. During the frontal impact test, the dummy's head made contact with the vehicle's interior, while high chest deceleration was also recorded. In the side-impact test, the dummy's head was exposed, resulting in no points for side head protection.
The Kiger scored 12 out of 12 points for child restraint system installation. The tested vehicle also offered three-point seatbelts for all seating positions and ISOFIX anchorages for compatible child seats. However, Global NCAP noted that the vehicle did not provide an option to deactivate the front passenger airbag when installing a rear-facing child seat in the front passenger seat.
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Six Airbags and Electronic Stability Control
The tested Kiger was equipped with six airbags as standard, along with electronic stability control and ISOFIX child-seat mounting points. These features represent an improvement over the earlier two-airbag version selected for testing.
Electronic stability control helps drivers maintain control when a vehicle begins to lose stability, particularly during sudden manoeuvres or on slippery roads. Airbags provide additional protection by helping reduce the impact of a collision on occupants, while ISOFIX mounting points allow compatible child seats to be secured to the vehicle.
Global NCAP also confirmed that the tested model met the organisation's requirements for electronic stability control and seatbelt reminders. Its pedestrian protection performance was assessed against the relevant UN127 regulation.
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Earlier Renault Kiger Crash Test Results
The latest assessment follows an earlier Global NCAP evaluation of the Renault Kiger. The previous test involved a version equipped with two airbags and without electronic stability control or ISOFIX as standard. That version received two stars for adult occupant protection and one star for child occupant protection in the Safer Cars for Africa assessment.
Renault subsequently updated the vehicle's safety equipment and voluntarily submitted the improved version for another evaluation. The latest four-star adult and three-star child ratings reflect the results achieved by the updated vehicle tested for the South African market.
It is important to understand that the latest test and the earlier assessment were conducted under different safety specifications and testing conditions. Global NCAP also revised its crash-test protocols in July 2022. Therefore, the scores from different testing rounds should not be compared directly without considering the changes in the assessment procedure.
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What the Rating Means for Indian Car Buyers
Although the latest tested Renault Kiger was manufactured in India, it was built for the South African market. Therefore, the four-star adult and three-star child ratings should not automatically be treated as an official crash-test rating for every version sold in India.
The current India-market Kiger has received safety equipment updates, including six airbags as standard. However, buyers should check the exact variant specifications and market-specific safety features before making a purchase decision. A vehicle's manufacturing location alone does not establish that all versions have identical equipment or crash-test performance.
The latest Global NCAP assessment provides useful information about the safety performance of the India-made Kiger in its tested specification. It also highlights areas that require attention, particularly the unstable bodyshell and footwell, the door opening during the side-impact test and the protection offered to the three-year-old child dummy.
Overall, the Renault Kiger's latest Global NCAP result marks an improvement in its assessed safety performance, with four stars for adult occupants and three stars for children. At the same time, the findings underline why buyers should consider both safety equipment and crash-test performance when selecting a vehicle.
