It comes as no surprise that Volkswagen and Skoda have ranked highest in the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) in car safety. The first round of GNCAP results for 2023 puts several Maruti Suzuki cars at the bottom of the ranking table.
The safety aspects of cars sold in India are tested under the GNCAP for better assessment of adult and child occupant protection. The test includes various parameters like Electronic Stability Control (ESC), pedestrian protection, and assessment of frontal and side impact protection.
According to a GNCAP statement, the crash tests have become more demanding compared to their previous tests. This stringent protocol is now being followed to ensure better safety of both adult and child occupants.
Topping the list of safe cars sold in India as per the new stringent protocol are the Volkswagen Virtus, Skoda Slavia. These cars have won 5 star ratings in both adult and child occupant protections.
The Scorpio-N is Mahindra’s offering that made it to the top with 5 star adult occupant protection but a 3 star in child occupant protection rating.
The popular Maruti Suzuki cars however, have earned zero star ratings when it comes to child occupant protection. Although the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 and WagonR have secured 2 and 1 star rating respectively in adult occupant protection, the two cars have been given zero stars for child occupant protection.
According to GNCAP, the zero star ratings in the child occupant category is because of Maruti Suzuki declining to nominate the Child Restraint System (CRS) for child occupants. The GNCAP result for Alto K10 and WagonR stated, “The lack of three-point belts in all seating positions and the lack of standard airbag disabling for a rear facing CRS in the front seating position explains the zero score for child protection in both Maruti Suzuki’s models.”
In the older protocol, Tata Punch, Mahindra XUV300, and Mahindra XUV700 have earned 5 stars in adult safety and 4 stars in child safety. Also as per the older protocol, Tata Alrtoz and Tata Nexon had earned 4 stars and 3 stars in adult safety and child safety respectively.
Other cars that made it to the top as per older protocols of the GNCAP are Honda Jazz, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Mahindra Marazzo, Volkswagen Polo, Mahindra Thar, Tata Tiago, Tata Tigor, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Renault Kiger, Honda City 4th Gen, Tata Tigor EV, Nissan Magnite and Renault Triber. Although all of these cars have a 4 star rating for adult safety, their child safety rating varied from 2 star to 4 star.
It is to be noted that most of the Maruti Suzuki are not making it to the top of the ranks mainly because of questionable build quality in a bid to reduce the cost. Yes, it is no wonder that Maruti Suzuki cars are selling like hot cakes since they are affordable with a wide service network.
They are however, not as safe as we think they are atleast according to the GNCAP results. As more of the new cars sold in India will be tested for safety under the new stringent protocols, more of the Indian and European cars are expected to make it to the top of the list. Provided, the relevant safety features are added of course.