To start with, what exactly is the Raize? It may appear similar to a smaller RAV4, yet there are no shared features between these two models. The Raize, a term derived from the combination of "rise" and "raise", represents Toyota's adaptation of the Daihatsu Rocky, a subcompact crossover introduced in late 2019. Recently, Latin NCAP conducted a crash test on the Raize, with results that were less than satisfactory.
Sold under different names such as the Subaru Rex and Perodua Ativa, the Toyota Raize received a disappointing one-star rating in the crash test. Despite being 2024, the Indonesian-market Raize is equipped with only two front airbags as standard. In contrast, the Mexican version includes six airbags, adding side and curtain airbags. The Raize's performance in the Latin NCAP assessment was subpar, not solely due to the absence of additional airbags.
According to the New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Raize displayed an "unstable structure" during the front impact test. It also provided only "marginal protection" to the driver's chest. The vehicle underwent a front collision test at 40 mph and a side crash test at 31 mph, where it showed significant intrusion into the passenger compartment, thereby increasing injury risks. It scored zero points in the side pole impact test due to the lack of standard side head protection.
Latin NCAP noted that the Raize is available with advanced driver-assistance systems elsewhere, but not in the Latin NCAP region. In Indonesia, the Raize GR Sport includes the Toyota Safety Sense suite, offering features like lane departure warning, pre-collision systems, and adaptive cruise control. However, the tested model lacked these features, leading to a poor rating.
The Raize achieved a 41% score for Adult Occupant Protection, 72% for Child Occupant Protection, 59% for Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users, and 58% for Safety Assist. Stephan Brodziak, Latin NCAP Chairman, expressed disappointment in Toyota's strategy of selling low-safety vehicles in certain regions. Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP, urged Toyota to enhance basic safety equipment and participate in safety evaluations to inform consumers about vehicle performance.
The Raize is among several recent cars that have underperformed in crash tests. Notably, the MG5 and Mahindra Scorpio received zero-star ratings from ANCAP, and the Citroën C3 and JAC E10x also earned zero stars from Latin NCAP.