The Renault Triber boasts 4-star safety
Car crashes are accidents waiting to happen. You drive on the road with others, which means you are at the mercy of chance. But there are two things you can do: you can drive as safely and defensively as possible to lessen the chances of an accident, and you can get a car that will give you proper protection in the event of an accident.
Different people need different cars, but if you need an MPV that can carry seven in comfort – and in safety – the Renault Triber is worth more than a look. It has just scored a coveted four-star safety rating with the Global NCAP, with 11.62 out of a possible 17 points.
The test was conducted in India, where the Triber was designed and is built for the world market. The Triber comes with different trim models, but the one used in the GNCAP test came with the most basic safety features – two airbags, a seatbelt reminder system and ABS. It had the same 54kW naturally aspirated engine and 5-speed manual gearbox as we use, although we also have the 5-speed automatic gearbox.
According to David Ward, President of the Global NCAP, “It is satisfying to note Renault’s safety improvements with Global NCAP’s Triber crash test result. We would encourage them to continue this progress, and to set a five star or Safer Choice rating as their future target for the Indian market.”
NCAP stands for New Car Assessment Programme and there are numerous programmes around the world. The US-NCAP was the first when introduced in 1978, and you now get the Euro NCAP, Korean NCAP, Japan NCAP and the Global NCAP, among many others. All NCAP programmes use star ratings, but these are not interchangeable, because the test parameters are not the same.
The Global NCAP was formed in 2011 in the UK and its primary goal is to promote crash-testing and reporting in emerging markets. Its key initiatives are “Safer Cars For India” and “Safer Cars For Africa”.
An NCAP programme is by definition a moving target. The 1978 standards will probably put all current new cars in the world at 5-stars, while a 5-star car then will most likely only rate one star today. That is because back then few cars had seatbelts and airbags were few and actually quite dodgy at that time. ABS was not a thing yet and crumple zones were loath to deform on demand.
As more vehicles get increasingly safer, the test for stars will become harder. The effect of various kinds of impact on the passengers are still the main consideration in all NCAP tests, but factors such as pedestrian safety and built-in active safety measures are also taken into account. For example, from next year electronic stability control (ESC) will become mandatory to achieve the top rating.
South Africa’s road accident scenario does not inspire confidence at present, and the inherent safety of your vehicle is paramount to you and your passengers. If you are looking for a seven-seater, add safety to your requirements and test drive the Renault Triber.
