Is the new global NCAP a storm in a tea cup?

A lot of furore has been created in the South African media around Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), and, in my opinion, quite needlessly. The coverage has created unnecessary doubt in the minds of consumers. But first, what is an NCAP safety rating?

An NCAP rating is an independent, star-based evaluation (0–5) that indicates how well a vehicle protects occupants and pedestrians in crashes. It helps consumers identify safer cars with better crash protection and advanced safety technology. That is the long and short of it.

However, there is a serious caveat: what if the ratings simply became more stringent over the past year or more? Does this mean that the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) has been negligent in the safety assembly of the vehicle? Absolutely not.

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The Toyota Corolla Cross received a disappointing 2-star rating for adult occupant safety in South Africa due to a lack of standard side head protection. The Hyundai Grand i10 received a 0-star rating for adult safety in December 2025. I don’t think this fairly reflects the safety record of either respected OEM.

Both have decades of history regarding vehicle safety. The Grand i10 did not become less safe; Global NCAP rules simply became much stricter after July 2022.

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