ROAD SAFETY
Shocking that Nissan’s Hardbody NP300 is such a softy
Nissan NP300 scores zero in crash test, while SA’s Hyundai i20 is not as safe as European versions
In 2017, vehicle safety organisation Global NCAP and the Automobile Association of SA (AA SA) teamed up to test a number of entry-level vehicles on sale in the South African market. Some of the results were shocking, although to many not surprising in a country that has outdated vehicle safety standards and an apparent lack of consumer demand for it. Recently the organisations teamed up again and we were there to witness the live crash tests of two of the four vehicles tested: the Hyundai i20 and Toyota Yaris. The other two vehicles tested were the Kia Picanto and Nissan NP300 Hardbody. It is the latter which raises the most questions. The popular NP300 Hardbody received a zero star rating and just two stars for child occupant protection in the frontal offset collision test at 64km/h. According to the test results "the vehicle structure collapsed during the crash test and it was rated as unstable". Take a look at the picture, it tells it all. "It is astonishing that a global company...
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