Toyota Corolla Cross Falls Short on Safety Standards

The Automobile Association has raised significant concerns following crash test results that revealed the Toyota Corolla Cross achieved only a two-star adult safety rating, highlighting critical gaps in protection for South African motorists.

In findings that echo recent concerns about the Hyundai Grand i10, the AA has expressed alarm over the Toyota Corolla Cross's performance in Global NCAP's #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign crash tests. The locally manufactured vehicle, whilst achieving three stars for child occupant protection, demonstrated troubling deficiencies in adult safety provision, particularly due to the absence of standard side head protection airbags.

The Corolla Cross, built at Toyota's Prospecton plant in KwaZulu-Natal specifically for African markets, comes equipped with driver and passenger frontal airbags, side body airbags, a driver knee airbag, and Electronic Stability Control. However, the critical omission of side head protection represents a glaring safety oversight in modern vehicle design standards.

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Global NCAP's comprehensive assessment uncovered several concerning findings. The footwell area proved unstable and unable to withstand further loading, despite the bodyshell receiving a stable rating. Most significantly, the side pole impact test could not be performed because the vehicle lacks standard side head protection for both front and rear passengers. This absence leaves occupants vulnerable to severe head injuries, even in relatively low-speed collisions with poles or trees.

Whilst the side impact test demonstrated good protection for the abdomen and pelvis, with adequate chest protection, the overall picture remains troubling. The child protection assessment, though achieving three stars, revealed additional shortcomings including the lack of passenger airbag disconnection and exposure of the three-year-old dummy's head during both side and frontal impact tests.

Richard Woods, Global NCAP's Chief Executive Officer, emphasised that manufacturers like Toyota possess both the knowledge and capability to build safer vehicles. He stressed that African consumers deserve identical safety performance standards fitted as standard in other global markets. Addressing this disparity and democratising vehicle safety across Africa remains a priority for the organisation.

AA Chief Executive Officer Bobby Ramagwede described the results as deeply troubling. "There really is no excuse for the lack of side head protection in the popular Toyota Corolla Cross," he stated. "This highlights a continuing pattern where vehicles sold in Africa fail to meet safety standards applied elsewhere. South African motorists deserve better, particularly given that the Corolla Cross is locally built at Toyota's Prospecton plant."

The two-star rating reinforces the urgent need for manufacturers to commit to equal safety across all markets. The AA believes no vehicle should be sold without side head protection for front and rear rows. Safety should never be an optional extra, and certainly not reserved for markets outside Africa. The organisation will continue to push for stronger safety regulations and greater transparency from vehicle manufacturers operating in Africa, encouraging them to address these NCAP findings through manufacturing improvements or recall processes.