Global NCAP and the Automobile Association of South Africa launched the #SaferCarsforAfrica campaign. Earlier in November, the two organisations launched the second part of their project.

The campaign coincides with the first independent crash tests of some of South Africa’s most popular compact cars.

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The Kia Picanto is one of four cars tested in the second round of the campaign. The Picanto achieved a three-star rating for adult occupant protection in the frontal crash test at 64km/h. The vehicle structure was rated as stable while the footwell area was rated as unstable. The car offers seatbelt pre-tensioners for both front passengers and seat belt reminder for the driver only. 

Using the child seats recommended by Kia the Picanto achieved a two-star rating for child protection. The detachment of the ISOFIX anchorages for the "3-years-old" CRS during the test explains the low score for child occupant protection.

The manufacturer did not yet offer an explanation to this problem, but the child seat manufacturer which is also investigating, took immediate action and removed the Picanto from their recommended list of cars for this CRS model. 

Global NCAP awards a separate child safety rating to each car in order to highlight the different levels of protection vehicles provide to passengers on the rear seats.

Because the only safe way for young children to travel is properly restrained in a child seat, the assessment checks how compatible the car is with the child seats recommended by the manufacturer, as well as the protection provided in the crash test. Airbags are not a substitute for seatbelts, passengers must always wear seatbelts. 

The Kia Picanto is only one of two cars which offers standard ISOFIX anchorages for child restraint systems (CRS) of the four cars tested in the 2018 round.