Under the #SaferCarsForIndia campaign, started to create awareness about the safer vehicles, Global NCAP has tested over 40 made-in-India vehicles in the last few years. These models received a poor zero to an impressive five stars. In this article, we talk about the top 5 safest made-in-India cars on sale in India as per Global NCAP crash test ratings.
1. Tata Punch – 5 Stars
Adult Protection – 16.45 Points
Child Protection – 40.89 Points
The homegrown automaker’s latest offering, the Tata Punch has joined the likes of the Altroz and the Nexon to secure five stars for adult occupant protection in Global NCAP crash test. In fact, the small car scored four stars for child occupant protection. It scores maximum for both adult protection and child protection, beating the Mahindra XUV300 to become India’s safest car.
The small car received 16.45 out of a maximum 17 points in adult occupant protection, as it the highest of all made-in-India vehicles tested by Global NCAP. Tested at a speed of 64kmph, the new Punch is claimed to offer good protection to head, neck, chest and knees of driver and passengers. The bodyshell is found stable and was capable of withstanding further loadings.
The Punch scored 40.89 points out of maximum 49 points in child occupant protection. It marginally behind the new Mahindra Thar, which scored 41.11 points. The child seat for the 3 year old and 1.5 year old were installed rearward facing with ISOFIX connectors and support leg. The CRS was able to prevent excessive forward movement during the impact and offers good protection to the head and chest of the dummies. The CRS did not show incompability.
2. Mahindra XUV300 – 5 Stars
Adult Protection – 16.42 Points
Child Protection – 37.44 Points
The new Mahindra XUV300 has scored 16.42 points out of 17 points on adult occupant protection, and 37.44 points out of a potential 49 points on child occupant protection. The test results show that the Mahindra XUV300 provided ‘good’ head, neck and knee protection for adult occupant. While the chest protection for the front passenger rated as ‘good’, the driver protection was ‘adequate’. The SUV’s structure and footwell area were stable too. The SUV offered ‘fair’ and ‘good’ protection for the 3 year old (forward facing) and 1.5 year old child dummy (rearward facing) dummies respectively.
3. Tata Altroz – 5 Stars
Adult Protection – 16.12 Points
Child Protection – 29 Points
The new Tata Altroz is the safest made-in-India hatchback, as it grabbed a 5-star rating at the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) crash tests. The Altroz has secured an impressive 16.13 points out of 17 in adult occupant protection. For child occupancy, the Altroz secured 3 stars with 29 points out of 49.
The hatchback offers good protection to driver and passenger’s head, neck and knees, and adequate protection to chest during collision. The bodyshell of the Tata Altroz was rated as stable, and it was capable of withstanding further loadings. Footwell area was rated as stable. While protection for the 1.5-year old child dummy was good, the backrest of the child seat for the 3 year old child dummy unlatched during the crash.
4. Tata Nexon – 5 Stars
Adult Protection – 16.06 Points
Child Protection – 25 Points
The Tata Nexon was the first made-in-India to car to score 5 stars crash test rating in Global NCAP. The compact SUV has scored 16.06 out of 17 points in adult protection, and 3 star rating for child occupant protection by achieving 25 points out of 49. The Nexon’s bodyshell was rated as stable and it can in fact withstand further loadings. The protection offered to the driver and front passenger’s chest was adequate.
5. Mahindra Marazzo – 4 Stars
Adult Protection – 12.85 Points
Child Protection – 22.22 Points
The 7-seater premium MPV achieved 4 star rating at the Global NCAP crash test. It scored 4 stars in Adult Occupant Protection and 2 stars for child occupant protection. Tested under #SaferCarsForIndia campaign, the Marazzo scored 12.85 out of 17 points in the adult safety ratings. In the child occupant safety, it attains 2 star rating by scoring 22.22 points out of 49.
The Mahindra Marazzo provides good protection for both adult head and neck. The MPV offers decent protection for the driver chest and adequate protection for passenger chest. However, the pedals showed some risk for the lower legs due to their displacement.
