Small car safety shootout: VW Up! vs. Renault Sandero vs. Toyota Aygo

By Ané Theron

If you're in the market for a little city slicker, you may want to consider the safest one you can find, just in case a minibus taxi comes a little too close for comfort. But which is the safest at the under-175K price point? We compare three close competitors.

 

Which is the safest small car of them all?

We've taken the entry-level VW Take Up! (R171 200) and compared it to the value-packed, spacious Sandero 66kW Turbo Expression (R174 900, also the entry-level model) and the freshly-launched Toyota Aygo 1.0 X-Play (R169 900 for the more similarly-priced mid-tier model) full of new safety and convenience features. We chose these three models for the closest comparison possible, since stability control is a great safety feature in this price range, and all three come equipped with this.

Contender no.1: VW Take Up!

The VW Up! is packed to the rafters with safety features at this price point.

It has ABS (anti-lock brakes) with EBD (electronic brake force distribution), ESP (stability control) as well as ASR, which stands for 'Antriebsschlupfregelung' or in English, Anti-skid Regulation. If you translate the German word directly, it means Drive Slip Control. It is a secondary function of stability control, which helps you keep control of your vehicle should your wheels start slipping. The Up! also gets EDTC, or Engine Drag Torque Control. Much like ABS, it works by preventing driven wheels from locking up under engine braking. Apart from that mouthful, the Up! also boasts front and side curtain airbags to protect rearmost passengers, as well as LED daytime driving lights. Other standard safety features include Hill Start Assist. It also scored five stars in the EuroNCAP safety test program.

Contender no.2: Renault Sandero 66kW Expression

The Sandero has been a class leader from a safety perspective for quite some time now, being one of the first starter-cars to offer stability control, which has been mandatory in first-world countries for at least six years. The Renault Sandero offers Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), abovementioned Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and 2 airbags. The Renault Sandero also offers 3-point safety belts for all three rear passengers. It scored 4 stars in the EuroNCAP safety crash test program - because it has fewer airbags than the Up!. The Sandero Stepway Plus model (R206 900) gets 2 additional airbags. The entry-level Sandero has a four-star safety rating. The Sandero also gets ASR.

Contender no.3: Toyota Aygo 1.0 X-Play

The funky-looking new Aygo has not only been tweaked to appear fresher and more youthful, it has also received some safety equipment that raises its game considerably in the safety stakes. All Aygos now receive VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), front and side airbags, and Hill Start Assist to supplement ABS and Emergency Brake Assist. It comes with rear fog lamps and has daytime driving lights (also known as DRLs or Daytime Running Lamps) -  too, and is fitted with child locks. The flagship Toyota Aygo X-Cite is fitted with curtain airbags as well, but is quite a bit more expensive at R193 100. The entry-level Aygo 1.0 is priced at R166 800.

At a glance 

	VW Take Up!	Renault Sandero 66kW Expression	Toyota Aygo 1.0         X-Play
Price	R171 200	R174 900	R169 900
ABS (anti-lock brakes)	yes	yes	yes
EBD (electronic brake-force distribution)	yes	yes	yes
Emergency Brake Assist	no	yes	yes
Hill-start assist	yes	yes	yes
VSC/ESP (stability control)	yes	yes	yes
Central Locking with remote	yes	yes	yes
Fog lamps	no	rear	rear
Alarm/Immobiliser	yes	yes	yes
Airbags	4	2	4
DRLs (daytime running lamps)	yes	no	yes
Warranty	3-year, 120 000km	5-year, 150 000km	3-year, 100 000km
Service Plan	optional	yes	optional

 

In conclusion

While all three cars offer outstanding safety credentials for this segment of the market, the VW Up! stands at the top of the podium. You will have to fork out some dosh for a radio though, while the other two contestants have this specification as standard. The Sandero's radio has Bluetooth and a CD player (with fingertip controls behind the steering wheel), while the Aygo X-Play even has a touchscreen infotainment system. Neither the Up! nor the Aygo are sold with a service plan, though.

The Sandero's strongest point is its roominess and its output figures, offering very decent performance from its 0.9cc turbocharged engine. Leg space is limited, but headroom, and especially boot space (nearly 300 litres vs. the Aygo's tiny 168 litres and the Up's 251 litres) is excellent. It also has a 2-year service plan as standard.

The Aygo's infotainment system and satellite controls on the steering wheel are sure to count in its favour among younger drivers, and of course, that Toyota badge is always a winner should the time come to sell your car. The X-Play's fashionable two-tone colour scheme also ups its style game.

Be sure to also read Safest Small Cars for New Drivers  to see our top ten list of SA's safest cars at the most reasonable prices, and to check out good used options.