SA's most popular Chinese car brand gets two-star safety rating

Chery Tiggo 7 Pro has achieved a two-star safety rating in the global NCAP safety crash test.

Photo: Supply/Global NCAP

The latest Global NCAP crash test results for a popular Chinese brand have been revealed.
The Chery Tiggo 7 is the latest model to come under scrutiny by the Automobile Association of South Africa.
Like the recent Toyota Corolla Cross, the Chery also received a two-star safety rating.

Chinese automaker Chery is the latest brand to come to the attention of the Automobile Association following low scores on adult passenger safety, following Toyota's Corolla Cross two-star rating revealed in early January.

Hyundai made headlines late last year when its Grand i10 scored a zero safety rating in Global NCAP crash test results, while Toyota achieved a two-star rating, it was revealed earlier in January.

News24 readers had asked, “What about Chinese cars?” Incidentally, Global NCAP's latest #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign crash test results have revealed that the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro has received a two-star rating for the safety of adult passengers due to the absence of standard side head protection for front and rear occupants, and the Automobile Association (AA) has expressed concern.

As per the latest NCAP findings, child occupant protection was given a three star rating. However, the child restraint system (CRS) failed the installation test in all forward-facing positions because the vehicle does not have an option to deactivate the passenger airbag when a rear-facing child seat is installed in the passenger seat.

According to the AA, these findings relate to the entry-level model of the Tiggo 7 range currently on sale in South Africa. The previous generation Tiggo 7 Pro Distinction (currently on sale locally) tested by Global NCAP. It's worth noting that the current-generation Tiggo 7 Prime, the entry-point in the current-generation range, lacks the same highlighted safety features as the Tiggo 7 Pro Distinction.

The results clearly show deficiencies in the level of standard protection provided to adults in these models sold in African markets, including South Africa.

Chery Tiggo 7 Pro undergoes global NCAP crash test.

Photo: Supply/Global NCAP

What did the crash test reveal?

Global NCAP's evaluation revealed several findings in the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro safety performance test:

The footwell area and bodyshell were found to be unstable and unable to bear further load.
Side pole impact was not reported because the car does not offer standard side head protection for the front and rear rows (the lack of this protection poses a risk of serious head injury even in a low-speed side impact with a pole or tree).
Electronic stability control (ESC) was standard, as well as seat belt reminder (SBR) in all positions, although these did not meet global NCAP requirements.

The NCAP crash test may have taken place in the last six months, but the automaker said it constantly updates its products.

Cherry SA answers
Cherry South Africa tells News 24 that its product range is constantly evolving to meet the growing needs of the market.

“With recent entry into markets such as the UK and Australia, the product range is constantly being reviewed to ensure conformance with regulatory standards around the world,” it added.

“The models introduced in right-hand drive markets are tailored to meet local consumer requirements. How we do this, is through introducing specification changes and upgrades on an annual basis. Recent model year versions of our products that have undergone testing have met 5-star NCAP requirements in their respective markets.”

The automaker said: “Chery SA is committed to our product offering meeting local and global regulatory safety requirements.”

Global NCAP noted Chery SA's recent dual-vehicle crash test, in which two Chery Tiggo 9 SUVs collided in a 50% offset head-on impact at 50 km/h in South Africa last year. However, these results and conclusions are not recognized by Global NCAP. The AA encourages consumers to look at market-specific NCAP test results conducted in an NCAP environment, and take into account NCAP-specific test criteria and parameters.

See also See also Toyota's popular Corolla Cross gets two star safety rating, AA CEO expresses concern

Bobby Ramagwede, chief executive of the AA, said: “We have been repeatedly asked by local consumers to start testing Chinese vehicle brands for local NCAP safety ratings. These latest results highlight two key areas: a persistent pattern in which vehicles sold in Africa do not offer the same safety standards as other regions, as well as an intensified campaign to avoid revealing to local consumers the broader safety picture in a specific vehicle range.