When the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (ASEAN NCAP) tested the Toyota Raize, the safety organization awarded it the highly coveted five-star rating. With that, this subcompact crossover is proven to be a safe choice for those considering it.
But there’s one thing you need to know about that test. The model ASEAN NCAP used was the top-spec version with all the bells and whistles plus safety assists. So, how does the base model compare, then? This time around, it’s the Latin New Car Assessment Program (Latin NCAP) that performed the tests.
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Compared to the range-topper, what safety equipment does the base variant come with? It has all the usual features such as anti-lock brakes and stability control. However, it loses out on side and side curtain airbags, rear cross traffic alert, front parking sensors, and a reverse camera. It’s close in spec to the entry-level version sold in Latin America.
With just two airbags to protect the front occupants, the Toyota Raize’s score practically plummeted. In one fell swoop, the Raize went from being a five-star car to just one.
Granted, it did generally well in the front impact test, giving the front occupants just about enough protection. Latin NCAP even lauded its rear occupant protection in the same test. But the lack of side airbags meant it greatly suffered in the side impact test.
With just the door panels serving as a buffer, occupant protection for both front and rear was marginal at best. And because the base variant has no side and curtain airbags, Latin NCAP did not subject the Raize to the even tougher side pole impact test.
That, along with the marginal rating for the standard side impact test, dragged the Raize’s scores down. Also, the lack of driver assists such as blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert resulted in the one-star result.
It’s not all bad news, though. Aside from its child protection in the front impact test, Latin NCAP had good things to say about its stability control. The Raize made all the right moves in the dreaded moose test, not once feeling unstable during the emergency maneuver.
Latin NCAP is urging all automakers to make side airbags standard in all their models and variants. The agency believes that the Raize could have easily fared better with those fitted. Latin NCAP has yet to test the variant equipped with those, and we’re keen on seeing how much better it does compared to those that don’t have side airbags.
