The Latin New Car Assessment Programme or Latin NCAP has recently crash tested the second generation Renault Duster and the Suzuki Swift sold in Brazil. Both models have received a Zero-star rating from the Latin NCAP. What’s more interesting is that the Suzuki Swift that is tested by Latin NCAP is Made-in-India.
The Suzuki Swift is produced at Suzuki’s Gujarat based manufacturing facility. The tested model was equipped with two airbags. The hatchback received 15.53% in Adult Occupant box, 0% in Child Occupant box, 66.07% in Pedestrian Protection and Vulnerable Road Users box and 6.98% in Safety Assist box. The report further said that the result is valid for the hatchback as well as the sedan version that is Suzuki Dzire.
The test claims that the hatchback has poor side impact protection and an open door during the test and low whiplash score due to the lack of UN32 prove for rear impact test. LATIN NCAP said that the hatchback lacks standard side head protection airbags, and standard ESC. Suzuki has also not recommended CRS for the test.
The Watchdog said that the Suzuki Swift would not pass Regulation UN95 requirements due to door opening. The European-spec Swift is fitted with 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard, while the Latin America-spec model misses out on side body and head airbags as well as ESC. The Latin American version of the Swift still offers standard a lap belt in the rear centre seating position despite the well-known high injuries risks of its use.
Commenting on the poor ratings, Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP said, “It is disappointing and upsetting such poor safety performances offered by Renault and Suzuki to Latin American consumers. Latin NCAP calls and encourages Renault and Suzuki to dramatically improve these models standard safety very soon. Latin American consumers are forced to pay more than the basic price to get to the same safety specs that Renault/Dacia and Suzuki offer as standard in markets like Europe and in some cases they are not even available in Latin America and the Caribbean. Basic vehicle safety, which is standard in mature economies markets, is a right that Latin American consumers should claim without having to pay extra for them. These safety features act like vaccines for one of the most severe pandemics like road traffic injuries and fatalities. Consumers have the right to receive the same vaccine supplied anywhere else without having to pay more for it”.
The new gen Suzuki Swift was launched in 2018. The car was tested by Global NCAP, and it had received 2 stars for adult occupant protection. According to the GNCAP, the bodyshell of the Swift was unstable and it cannot withstand further loadings. The tested model was equipped with dual airbags, seat-belt pre-tensioners and ISOFIX anchorages.
