Toyota Starlet gets Zero Star performance in safer cars for Africa’s Crash Test campaign

The Automobile Association has expressed disappointment over the poor performance of the current generation of Toyota Starlet vehicle, as far as driver and passenger safety is concerned.

The new Starlet performed horribly in the latest SaferCarsForAfrica campaign crash test.

This current-generation Toyota Starlet, resulted in the lowest possible crash test rating of Zero Stars for adult occupant protection, putting buyers of this model at huge risk to injury in the case of an accident.

The SaferCarsForAfrica campaign represents a partnership between the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) and the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA).

Together they anonymously buy entry-level vehicles in South Africa, ship them to Europe and submit them to global standard crash tests.

The Toyota Starlet was the most recent Safer-Cars-For-Africa vehicle to be tested and receive a rating from the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP), with the vehicle demonstrating serious failures in the protection offered to occupants, mainly in side impact testing due to the lack of restraint systems like side body and side head airbags.

These findings, in conjunction with a structure that could not provide adequate protection, led to the final Zero Star rating.

It is worth noting that this entry-level current-generation Toyota Starlet was equipped with only two airbags at the time of testing, while an updated version, introduced locally in September 2025 is offered with six airbags as standard across the range.

Global sales statistics from Toyota indicates that over 20,000 South African customers and their families have purchased the Starlet prior to its upgrade to six airbags.

Many of these owners may be unaware of the vehicle’s subsequent safety upgrade or that the range faces serious safety concerns.

Additionally concerning is that no structural updates are evident post the addition of the four airbags. GNCAP will submit the new model with its six airbags to similar testing later this year.

In publishing its vehicle crash test rating of the Toyota Starlet, GNCAP noted the following …

… In the side impact test, both head and chest protection were rated as poor.

… Abdomen protection was rated as adequate

… The footwell area and bodyshell were found to be unstable and not capable of withstanding further loadings

… The side pole test was not conducted as side head protection airbags are not fitted as standard

… In the frontal impact assessment, the head of the three-year-old dummy made contact with the vehicle interior and chest protection was rated as low

… In the side impact assessment, the head of the three-year-old dummy was exposed to impact

“This is a shocking zero-star result from Toyota. The Starlet, one of the most popular cars sold in South Africa, had an unstable bodyshell, as well as poor head and chest protection which are both a cause for serious concern,” said Richard Woods, the Chief Executive Officer of Global NCAP.

“Toyota has updated this model in the South African market. It now comes with new safety features fitted as standard. We welcome this improvement in safety equipment, and we will put the revised model to the test very soon.”

On his part Bobby Ramagwede, Chief Executive Officer of the AA of South Africa, pointed out that the Toyota Starlet is one of South Africa’s most popular vehicles and its poor performance in the GNCAP testing means that thousands of Starlet owners and their families remain at risk of serious injury in the case of an accident.

“These entry-level vehicles are also readily available in vehicle rental and corporate fleets, which further multiplies the risk to motorists.”

“Safety equipment and vehicles that are manufactured to a high standard of structural safety should never be an optional extra or a feature that is reserved for markets outside of Africa, nor should manufacturers be hiding behind the unfortunate lack of stringent vehicle-safety legislation locally. You cannot put a price on the life of South African consumers and their families”.

Owners of the Toyota Starlet or drivers who receive one as a rental or corporate vehicle are advised to inspect the vehicle roof lining and B-pillar for the SRS Airbag markings that would indicate that the vehicle is a newer version with the additional airbags.

Those with just two airbags are encouraged to take heed of the low safety rating of the vehicle and request other vehicle options that offer a higher level of structural and passive safety features.

The SaferCarsForAfrica campaign, and similar campaigns by the GNCAP in other parts of the world, was created to champion the fair treatment of motorists in countries without mandatory vehicle crash test programmes.

It can happen that a vehicle manufacturer will offer a vehicle for sale in a country without mandatory safety testing, such as South Africa, which offers less safety equipment and lower structural protection than a similar vehicle in a country, like Germany or Japan for example, where there are very strict safety standards and crash test programmes.

The GNCAP is a UK-registered charitable organization that works to democratize vehicle safety in support of the UN Global Goals.

Between 2014 and 2026, the organization has completed more than 100 safety assessments.