Global NCAP conducted a comparison by selecting two Hyundai models from the same brand but produced in different development contexts: a sedan from the United States market and a counterpart from a less economically robust region. The US model is known as the Accent, while the Mexico-bound version is marketed as the Grand i10. The test set was designed to illuminate how regional production decisions can influence overall safety performance on the road.
One notable fact emerged early: the US Accent is assembled in a Mexican facility, whereas the Mexico-spec Grand i10 sources its components from India. These production realities can intersect with design choices, standards, and assembly practices in surprising ways.
The collisions were staged under controlled laboratory conditions, and Global NCAP safety engineers carefully evaluated the resulting damage to each vehicle. In the case of the Grand i10, the car experienced severe structural deformation. The doorway collapsed under impact, the A-pillar sustained significant bending, and the steering wheel intruded toward the driver. With only two airbags available for front occupants, the level of protection provided fell far short of what is considered adequate. This configuration markedly increased the risk of death or serious injury for those seated in the front.
In contrast, the Accent demonstrated a markedly different outcome. While it may not be the most advanced model on the market, its safety framework performed as intended. The body shell effectively preserved passenger integrity, and all six airbags deployed as designed. In a real-world crash, occupants would likely experience only minor injuries or recover quickly with minimal long-term impact.
The underlying reason for these divergent results lies in the differing safety requirements and regulatory expectations that apply to cars in various markets. Global NCAP notes that the standards adopted in some regions shape the structural engineering, restraint systems, and crash-test targets that automakers prioritize. Simultaneously, consumer priorities in different markets influence design choices, including what features are emphasized and what price points are deemed acceptable. In the Mexico-only sedan example, the car has long been valued for its simplicity and affordability, sometimes at the expense of higher levels of crash protection.
Such findings underscore the importance of understanding the relationship between regional safety policies and the engineering decisions made by manufacturers. They also highlight how global automakers balance cost, compliance, and consumer expectations across multiple markets. This case emphasizes that a car designed for one market may perform very differently in another when it comes to occupant protection after a crash.
Global NCAP continues to advocate for harmonized safety standards that prioritize real-world protection for all passengers, regardless of where a car is sold. The goal is to drive improvements in vehicle design and encourage manufacturers to raise safety benchmarks across the board. The comparison between the Accent and the Grand i10 serves as a clear reminder that consumer safety is not guaranteed by a regional reputation or price tag alone. It depends on the integration of robust structural design, effective restraint systems, and consistent testing practices.
Photo, video: Global NCAP