Toyota Glanza Twin Scores 4 Stars in GNCAP Retest After 0 Star Result

The Toyota Glanza Twin, sold in South Africa as the Toyota Starlet, has achieved a commendable four-star adult occupant protection rating in the latest Global NCAP crash test. This marks a massive improvement from the previous zero star result it received earlier this year. The significant safety upgrade comes after Toyota made six airbags a standard feature across the entire model range, drastically improving side collision protection.

The Six Airbag Safety Update

The Toyota Starlet is a made-in-India hatchback built at the Gujarat manufacturing facility of Maruti Suzuki. It shares its platform and design with the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Toyota Glanza. During an earlier crash test in May, the base model equipped with only dual front airbags received a disappointing zero-star rating for adult safety.

The primary reason for the earlier failure was the complete lack of side head protection. By adding side and curtain airbags as standard equipment across all variants, the automaker significantly enhanced occupant safety. When Global NCAP independently funded and tested this updated model, the results showcased a remarkable leap to a four-star adult safety rating. Global NCAP noted that this result clearly demonstrates the life-saving benefits of making additional airbags standard rather than optional extras.

Detailed Adult Occupant Protection Results

During the rigorous Global NCAP assessment, the updated Toyota Glanza Twin demonstrated vastly improved safety metrics for adult passengers.

• Frontal Crash Test: The footwell area remained stable, offering adequate protection to the driver and passenger. However, the overall bodyshell integrity was still rated as unstable and not capable of withstanding further loadings.
• Side Impact Assessment: The inclusion of curtain airbags resulted in good head protection and adequate chest protection for the adult dummy. Abdomen and pelvis protection were also rated as good.
• Side Pole Impact Test: The availability of curtain airbags allowed the vehicle to participate in the side pole test. Head protection was rated as good, while chest protection was marked as marginal. The abdomen and pelvis maintained a good protection rating.

Adult Safety Performance Overview

Child Occupant Protection Results

While the adult safety ratings saw a massive jump, the child occupant protection score for the Toyota Glanza Twin remained unchanged at three stars.

Global NCAP noted a few critical observations during the child dummy evaluations:

• In the frontal crash test, the head of the three-year-old dummy made contact with the interior of the vehicle.
• Chest protection for the child dummy was rated as low during frontal impacts.
• During the side impact test, the head of the three-year-old dummy was exposed to the impact.

These findings indicate that while adult safety has vastly improved, manufacturers still need to work on child restraint performance and rear cabin interior protection to ensure complete family safety.

Conclusion

The leap from a zero star to a four star rating highlights exactly why standardizing safety features is so critical. By making six airbags standard on the Toyota Glanza Twin, Toyota proved that entry-level hatchbacks can offer commendable protection without drastically affecting production lines. While child occupant protection still leaves some room for improvement, this updated Global NCAP result is a massive win for road safety and sets a great example for other automakers.