Driving a car that meets the NCAP safety standards is one of the recommended ways to combat fatal accidents. GNCAP is a non-profit organisation that has tested and rated many made-in-India vehicles as part of their ‘Safer Cars For India’ mission.
Comparing vehicles tested under the old protocol to the new protocol becomes difficult. Under the older protocol, a star rating reflects performance in a front crash rating. But the new protocol reflects more comprehensive protection. It includes side impact, and safety features, which help prevent an accident.
Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun both received 5-star ratings under the new protocol. Both midsize SUVs have received 5-star ratings for adult and child occupants. Here is the updated list of the Top 10 Safest Cars in India –
Top 10 Safest Cars in India
- Volkswagen Taigun – 5 Stars
- Skoda Kushaq – 5 Stars
- Tata Punch – 5 Stars
- Mahindra XUV300 – 5 Stars
- Tata Altroz – 5 Stars
- Tata Nexon – 5 Stars
- Mahindra XUV700 – 5 Stars
- Honda Jazz – 4 Stars
- Toyota Urban Cruiser – 4 Stars
- Mahindra Marazzo – 4 Stars
Top 10 Safest Cars in India – No Maruti Suzuki on the List!
1. Skoda Kushaq | 2. Volkswagen Taigun
Kushaq and Taigun twin models are the first vehicles to undergo the updated GNCAP testing protocol, and they received a 5-star rating, scoring 29.64 points out of a possible 34 points in the adult occupant protection test. They also performed well in the child occupant protection test, receiving 42 points out of a possible 49.
The head and neck protection provided by Kushaq and Taigun was good. Protection to the driver’s chest was ‘adequate,’ while the passenger’s chest had ‘good’ protection. Both SUVs also had ISOFIX mounting points on the outer rear seats, according to the testers.
GNCAP used a two-airbag version of the two SUVs during the side impact tests with a deformable barrier. But a six-airbag version was used for the side pole impact test. Both cars received 14.5 points out of a possible 17 in the side impact test. And in the side pole impact test, they received an ‘OK’ rating.
3. Tata Punch
Tata Punch takes the crown with a 5-star safety rating in the performed car crash test. This is the 3rd car from the company’s portfolio to receive 5 stars, and such a rating demonstrates the manufacturer’s priority and willingness to offer the safest cars to its fans. Punch scores 16.45/17 for adult occupant protection and 40.89/49 for child occupant safety. The micro SUV has provided good protection for the head, neck, knees, and chest of both the driver and front passenger. The bodyshell and footwell area was noted to be stable during the crash test.
4. Mahindra XUV300
The fourth car on the list is Mahindra XUV300 with a 5 Star safety rating and there is only a marginal difference of points in scores of Tata Punch and Mahindra XUV300. It has obtained a 16.42/17 in adult occupant protection and a 37.44/49 in child occupant safety. The crash test was conducted on the base variant, which comes equipped with two airbags, disc brakes on all four wheels, ABS, cornering brake control, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and front seatbelt pre-tensioners as standard.
5. Tata Altroz
Just below the Mahindra XUV300, the Tata Altroz is also one of the safest cars with a 5-star safety rating. It scored 16.13/17 and 29/49 in adult occupant protection and child occupant protection, respectively. Tata’s premium hatchback’s bodyshell was rated as stable and competent in withstanding further load. In terms of safety features, the Tats Altroz sports two airbags, seat belt reminders for the front passengers, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat anchorages and rear parking sensors as standard.
6. Tata Nexon
The next car from the 5-star safety rating club is the Tata Nexon. Tata Motors proves its sincerity towards passenger safety in the country by having four cars in the top 10 safest cars list. Tata Nexon got 16.06 points out of 17 in adult occupant protection and 25 points out of 49 in child occupant protection. It’s worth noting that the model tested was pre-facelift, and the model that is currently on sale has been further improved to meet pedestrian protection standards. The standard safety feature list includes dual airbags, ABS and ISOFIX child seat mounts.
7. Mahindra XUV700
Mahindra XUV700 was the biggest hit in the Indian car market this year. Its amazing feature list impressed car lovers because the company has not made any compromises on the safety of passengers. This SUV has scored 5 stars in the safety rating from GNCAP. In adult occupant protection, it scored 16.03/17 and in child occupant protection, it scored 41.66/49. Mahindra has packed the XUV700 with seven airbags, adaptive cruise control, and autonomous emergency braking, to name a few safety features.
8. Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz has obtained a place in the country’s top 10 safest cars list by achieving a significant 4-star safety rating. The hatchback received 13.89 out of a possible 30 points for adult safety and 31.54 points for child occupant safety. The Jazz was evaluated with the most basic safety features, including two frontal airbags, a seatbelt reminder and ABS. Interestingly, the driver’s chest provided adequate protection, while the passenger’s chest provided good protection. The body shell and footwell areas were certified as stable and capable of withstanding additional loadings.
9. Mahindra Marrazzo
This made-in-India MPV scored 4 stars in the safety rating by GNCAP. The Marrazzo received a rating of 12.85/17 for adult occupant safety and 22.22/49 for child safety due to its safety features. This MPV gets dual front airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, ISOFIX anchorages for rear seats, a driver’s side seatbelt reminder, brakes on all four wheels, and more.
10. Toyota Urban Cruiser
Toyota’s compact SUV scored a 4-star rating for adult occupants and 3 stars for child occupants. The model used for the tests was Toyota Urban Cruiser (RHD) 5 Door SUV, which weighed 1324 kg. It got an adult occupant rating of 13.52 out of 17 and 36.68 out of 49 for the child occupant. The crash tests were performed at a speed of 64 km/h and the body shell was deemed stable after the test.