Unexpectedly, the safety ratings of all Indian vehicles tested for the latest Global NCAP crash tests, which were released in Faridabad today, are disappointing. In spite of the growing awareness in India about vehicle safety, automakers have a lot to do in terms of integrating safety features in their vehicles. The results show a gap between safety expectations and standards, which calls for urgent reforms to the automotive industry in India.
Take a look back at the 2014 Crash Tests
In 2014, when Global NCAP conducted the first independent safety tests on Indian cars, there were high expectations for future improvements. The latest batch of Indian cars was expected to show significant improvements. In that inaugural round, eight models were put under the microscope–Volkswagen Polo, Maruti Alto 800, Maruti Swift, Tata Nano, Hyundai i10, Ford Figo, Toyota Etios, and Datsun Go. Only the Polo and Etios were able to achieve respectable 4-star ratings for the frontal protection. The rest received shockingly zero stars. This highlights the need for improvements in safety.
Recent Crash Test Results: A Disheartening Outcome
Global NCAP’s latest round of crash testing focused on five of India’s most popular cars: the Renault Kwid, Maruti Suzuki Celerio (also known as the Maruti Suzuki Eeco), Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Eon. All five vehicles received zero stars for insufficient protection of adult occupants. Renault Kwid was tested in three versions, including one with airbags, and failed to improve their rating. This highlights serious safety concerns for all Indian-made cars. This disappointing outcome shows that manufacturers must prioritize safety when designing their vehicles.
Crash test findings: Structural and stability concerns
The body shells of the tested cars collapsed under impact during crash tests at 64 km/h. This left the dummy passengers vulnerable to serious injuries. These vehicles’ structural integrity failed, raising alarming questions about their ability in real-world crashes to provide basic protection. This failure highlights the urgent need for more robust engineering to protect passengers in India’s rapidly growing automotive market.
Global NCAP: Industry Response to Calls for Change
David Ward, Secretary-General of Global NCAP expressed his grave concern when he revealed the latest crash test results at the Indian Automobile Safety Conference, hosted by IRTE in Faridabad. He said, “The recent results of the ‘SaferCarsforIndia’ program highlight the critical importance a stable shell has in a collision.” It is a foundational element for the safety of occupants, as well as including at least front-facing airbags. Ward continued to criticize Renault by saying, “It’s quite amazing that a major car manufacturer like Renault launched the Kwid initially without such an essential feature.” Global NCAP is adamant that no automaker should design new models in any country which fall so far beneath acceptable safety standards. His words sent a strong signal to the industry and urged swift action to prioritize safety for passengers.
Legislative action: the Need for Regulation
Ward stressed that “carmakers must ensure their new models comply with the UN’s minimum safety regulations, and include airbags in all of them as a standard safety feature”, Ward. Ward added, “These results highlight the importance of the Indian Government’s mandate to conduct front and side crash tests beginning in October 2017. It is important to take legislative action to ensure that Indian consumers have access to the recommended minimum levels of protection for occupants, as set out by the United Nations. Manufacturers shouldn’t wait until regulations catch up. “We urge them to eliminate as many zero-star vehicles as quickly as they can from production.” His call to actions pushes industry to prioritize safety over profit, and to increase its safety game.
Bharat New Vehicle Assessment Programme: Optimism and the Future
Ward concluded his remarks by saying that “Global NCAP supports the upcoming Bharat New Car Assessment Programme(BNCAP), which has the potential to lead a new era in automotive safety in India. This initiative will enable consumers to make better decisions, and create a market in which safer cars are the norm rather than the exception.
Renault Kwid: Disappointing Results Despite Efforts
Global NCAP conducted a test on the Renault Kwid standard without airbags. The results were disappointing. The vehicle was awarded zero stars for protection of adult occupants and two stars for safety for children. This poor result was caused by the collapse of the structure of the passenger compartment, combined with the lack of airbags. It exposed significant design vulnerabilities. These findings highlight the need for car safety improvements to make driving safer for everyone.
Renault Commitment to Improvement
Renault took steps to improve safety of the Kwid in response to the SaferCarsforIndia crash test conducted by Global NCAP. Renault has released four Kwid versions, all with upgraded safety features. The latest version was only just launched on the market. Renault has not yet tested this fourth version by Global NCAP. However, the efforts of Renault suggest that they are moving towards better safety standards.
Tests Continued: Safety Updates
Renault invited Global NCAP, after implementing safety improvements, to evaluate a new version of the Kwid. This updated model has been produced since April 2016. The company tested the model both with and without an airbag, demonstrating its commitment to better occupant safety. Renault is determined to raise safety standards in India and meet consumer expectations.
Assessing structural changes
The updated Kwid was tested without airbags and received disappointing ratings. It scored zero stars for protection of adult occupants, but two stars for safety for children. The car’s structure did not collapse, but it was unstable and could not withstand additional stress. The left side (passenger’s) was not reinforced in this version. The enhancements on the driver side were the only ones made, which raised concerns over overall safety and occupant protection.
Kwid Airbag Version: Evaluation
The updated Kwid with a driver’s airbag was tested and received the same disappointing result: zero stars in adult occupant safety and two stars in child safety. The vehicle structure was unchanged despite the addition of an airbag. The low score was due to a significant compression of the chest area of the dummy. Renault is committed to improving the Kwid in response to these findings. Global NCAP will evaluate these improvements during upcoming crash test.
Industry Leaders Call For Enhanced Safety
Ward said, “We applaud Renault for its commitment to address these safety concerns. We eagerly await testing an improved version equipped with airbags.” Renault has an established track record in Europe of prioritizing the safety of its customers. It’s important that it extends this commitment to India. His remarks highlight the importance of maintaining global safety standards, and urge manufacturers to align themselves with consumer expectations.
Persistent Challenges: Zero-Star Ratings
Renault has made efforts to improve safety, but all the versions tested so far received a zero-star rating in regards to adult occupant protection. This lack of safety measures is a constant reminder of the difficulties in meeting the expectations of consumers.
Eeco Safety Performance: An Urgent Call for Attention
Eeco was tested without airbags and received a dismal rating of zero stars in the adult occupant safety category, as well as one star in child safety. The passenger compartment structure collapsed in the test and the lack of airbags contributed significantly to the low score for adult protection. This model is notable for not offering optional airbags. This raises serious safety issues. Global NCAP said that given the severity of the structural failures, airbags would not be able to protect the driver from life-threatening injuries. This stark reality highlights the urgent need to make substantial safety improvements in the Eeco.
Hyundai Eon: alarmingly low safety ratings
Hyundai Eon standard without airbags received alarming ratings: zero stars for protection of adult occupants and two stars in child safety. In part, the vehicle’s unsteady passenger compartment structure and lack of airbags contributed to its poor adult protection rating. These results reveal critical safety flaws that require urgent attention. They raise concerns about the vehicle’s ability to protect its occupants during a collision.
Maruti Suzuki Celerio: Subpar Safety Performance
Maruti Suzuki Celerio in its non airbag version received disappointing ratings, a zero-star rating for adult protection, and a one-star rating for child safety. Inadequate adult protection was largely due to the absence of airbags. The low score for child safety was due to the high impact values on the 3-year-old dummy and its forward movement that exceeded accepted limits during testing. These results highlight the urgent need for improved safety features to protect all Celerio occupants.
Scorpio: A stark contrast to its Rugged Image
Scorpio was the only SUV that was tested. Its base version, which lacked airbags, served as the vehicle of choice. The Scorpio, despite its reputation as a tough vehicle, scored zero stars in the adult occupant safety category and only two stars for children’s safety. The poor results were due to the vehicle’s collapsed structure and the lack of airbags. This highlighted significant design vulnerabilities. The findings show a stark contrast in the Scorpio’s rugged appearance and its actual performance. This highlights the need for urgent improvements to protect the occupants.
Frequently Ask Question
Question : Which car has a 0 safety rating?
Answer :Maruti Suzuki S-Presso, with only one driver-side airbag, scored a poor score of 0 stars in the crash tests. It scored 0 out of 17 points for adult occupant safety and 13.84 out 49 for child protection. This translates into individual ratings of 0, and 2 stars, respectively.
Question : Which is the no. 1 safest car in India?
Answer : Tata Harrier
The Global NCAP rating of the safest vehicle in India
| S. No. | Cars | GNCAP (Child occupant Score) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tata Harrier | 5 Stars (45.00) |
| 2. | Tata Safari | 5 Stars (45.00) |
| 3. | Skoda Slavia | 5 stars (42.00 dollars) |
| 4. | Volkswagen Virtus | 5 stars (42.00 dollars) |
Question : Which is not the safest car in India?
Answer : According to Global NCAP ratings, b>Maruti Suzuki Eeco, Maruti Suzuki S-Presso and Hyundai Grand i10 Nios are the least safe cars in India. However, some models lack vital safety features. According to Global NCAP ratings Maruti Suzuki Eeco and Maruti Suzuki S-Presso are the least-safe cars in India.
Question : What is the 1 safest car?
Answer :
- Audi Q7. Audi Q7. TLD: With a composite score of 91.32 the Audi Q7 is the best choice for safety in the family. …
- Subaru Ascent …
- Hyundai Palisade. …
- INFINITI… …
- HONDA ODYSSEY …
- MAZDA CX-50. …
- TESLA MODEL Y. …
- ACURA MDX
Question : Which car is safest in a crash?
Answer : These are the top 2024 IIHS Top safety Pick and Top safety Pick+ award recipients. They can be considered as the best cars to survive an accident.
- Acura Integra – Small Car
- Toyota Prius (small vehicle)
- Subaru Outback (midsize vehicle)
- Toyota Camry (midsize vehicle)
- Genesis G90 (large luxurious car)
- Honda CR-V Small SUV