The results have sparked concern among road safety advocates, especially as the Toyota Starlet remains one of South Africa’s most popular vehicles.
According to the crash test findings, the tested model, equipped with only two airbags, demonstrated serious shortcomings in occupant protection, particularly during side-impact testing. The vehicle was found to have poor head and chest protection, while its bodyshell and footwell structure were deemed unstable and unable to withstand further impact forces.
GNCAP also noted that the vehicle lacked standard side head protection airbags, preventing a side pole test from being conducted.
In child occupant protection assessments, the head of the three-year-old crash test dummy made contact with the vehicle’s interior during frontal impact testing, while in side-impact testing the dummy’s head was exposed to impact.
The #SaferCarsForAfrica initiative anonymously purchases entry-level vehicles available in South Africa and submits them to international-standard crash testing in Europe to assess their safety performance.
Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer of GNCAP, described the result as “shocking,” saying the unstable bodyshell and poor protection levels raise serious safety concerns for motorists.
However, Woods acknowledged that Toyota has since updated the Starlet range in South Africa. Since September 2025, newer versions of the vehicle have been fitted with six airbags as standard. He confirmed that the updated model will undergo similar crash testing later this year.
Despite the upgrade, concerns remain over the safety of older models already on the road. Toyota sales data indicates that more than 20,000 South African customers purchased the two-airbag version before the six-airbag upgrade was introduced.
Bobby Ramagwede, Chief Executive Officer of the Automobile Association of South Africa, warned that thousands of motorists and their families may still be vulnerable to serious injury in the event of a crash.
He also highlighted that the vehicle is commonly used in rental and corporate fleets, increasing the number of people potentially exposed to safety risks.
Ramagwede stressed that safety equipment and strong vehicle structures should not be optional extras or reserved for markets with stricter regulations. He further criticized the lack of stringent vehicle safety legislation in some African markets, arguing that consumer lives should never be compromised.
Owners of the Toyota Starlet and drivers using rental or company vehicles have been advised to check for “SRS Airbag” markings on the roof lining and B-pillar to determine whether their vehicle is the newer six-airbag version.
Motorists driving the earlier two-airbag model are being encouraged to consider vehicles with improved structural integrity and enhanced passive safety systems.
The #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign was established to promote equal vehicle safety standards in countries without mandatory crash testing programmes. The initiative seeks to ensure that consumers in African markets receive the same level of protection offered in regions with stricter safety regulations, such as Europe and Japan.
Since 2014, GNCAP has conducted more than 100 vehicle safety assessments globally as part of its mission to improve road safety and support the United Nations’ global development goals.
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