We reported earlier that made-in-India Suzuki Swift has scored Zero-Star safety rating from the Latin NCAP. The Latin New Car Assessment Programme or Latin NCAP has now tested the made-in-India Suzuki Baleno, which has also scored a Zero-star rating in the crash test.
The Suzuki Baleno is produced at Suzuki’s Gujarat based manufacturing facility. The tested model was equipped with two airbags. It achieved 20.03% in Adult Occupant box, 17.06% in Child Occupant box, 64.06% in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users box and 6.98% in Safety Assist box.
The Zero stars result is explained by the poor side impact protection, low whiplash score due to the lack of UN32 proof for rear impact test, lack of standard side head protection airbags, lack of standard ESC and the decision of Suzuki of not recommending Child Restraint Systems (CRS) for the test.
The European-spec Suzuki Baleno was equipped with 6 airbags and ESC as standard, while the Latin American model misses out on side body and side head airbags and ESC as standard. Suzuki refused to test the optional equipment to show its performance which opens the question of the effectives of those extra safety elements.
The Suzuki Baleno was tested in frontal impact and side impact, whiplash and pedestrian protection. In the frontal impact, the Baleno showed stable structure performance. Side impact test showed high intrusion in the door with poor protection to the chest of the adult door during the test. Whiplash test showed marginal neck protection. Pedestrian protection performance showed a reasonable level.
Alehandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP, said, “Baleno’s zero star is part of an ongoing disappointment, after the Swift’s zero star rating some weeks ago. With specially poor safety performance in adult and child occupant protection on offer from Suzuki as standard to Latin American consumers.”
