India-made Kia Sonet earns 1 star rating in Global NCAP — All details inside!
- 1Tested variant has dual frontal airbags and a driver knee airbag as standard
- 2Bodyshell was rated unstable after the frontal offset crash test,
- 3Vehicle tested is manufactured in India and is rated valid for South Africa
The Kia Sonet, one of India's best-selling compact SUVs, has received a 1-star adult occupant protection rating from Global NCAP for the variant tested for the South African market. The vehicle is manufactured in India, and the rating is valid for South Africa. This is a significantly different result from the Bharat NCAP and ASEAN NCAP ratings that higher-specification Indian variants of the Sonet have previously earned, and the gap highlights why the tested variant and its equipment level matter enormously when interpreting any crash test result.
What was tested and why it matters
The Kia Sonet tested by Global NCAP for Africa is a lower-specification variant, equipped with only dual frontal airbags and a driver knee airbag as standard. This three-airbag setup is a deliberate market-specific configuration. Side chest airbags and electronic stability control (ESC) are listed as optional equipment in this variant, meaning they are not fitted as standard. Side head curtain airbags are not available on this tested variant at all.
This directly explains the most telling limitation of the test: a side pole impact test was not performed. Global NCAP's methodology requires standard side head protection for the pole test to be conducted. Without it, the test simply does not happen, and the vehicle loses access to the points that category could have contributed.
Kia Sonet Adult occupant protection
| Test Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier | 9.000 Points |
| Side Movable Deformable Barrier (Car) | 11.787 Points |
| Side Pole Impact (Pole) | No Test Conducted |
The Kia Sonet tested by Global NCAP for Africa was a lower-spec variant equipped with dual front airbags and a driver knee airbag as standard. Side chest airbags and electronic stability control (ESC) were offered as optional features, while side curtain airbags were not available on the tested model.
In crash tests, the Sonet scored 9 points in the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier test and 11.787 points in the Side Movable Deformable Barrier test, indicating a reasonable level of occupant protection in both frontal and side impacts. However, the Side Pole Impact test was not conducted.
The reason is straightforward. Global NCAP requires standard side head protection, typically provided by curtain airbags, before a vehicle can be assessed in the side pole impact test. Since the tested Sonet did not offer curtain airbags, the pole test was not carried out, limiting its overall score potential.
Kia Sonet child occupant protection
| Child occupant | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dynamic score | 18 month old child | Front | 8 / 8 |
| Side | 4 / 4 | ||
3 year old child | Front | 8 / 8 | |
| Side | 4 / 4 | ||
| Installation score | 4.57 / 12 | ||
| Vehicle assessment score | 0 /13 | ||
| Total | 28.57 / 49 | ||
The child protection score of 28.57 out of 49 earns the Sonet 3 stars in this category. The dynamic test performance was actually strong: the full 24 out of 24 points were scored. Both the 18-month-old and 3-year-old dummies, installed using ISOFix anchorages and support legs in rearward-facing positions, showed full protection in both the frontal and side impact tests.
The score was pulled down by two other areas. CRS installation assessment scored only 4.57 out of 12, largely because the CRS installation failed in the rear centre position for all belted child restraints. The vehicle safety features assessment scored 0 out of 13, because the tested vehicle does not offer an airbag cut-off switch for the front passenger position, which would be needed for safe rearward-facing child seat use. The car also does not offer three-point belts in all seating positions, which adds to the penalty.
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