Since Global NCAP first conducted crash tests on Indian cars in 2014, getting dismal results, car safety has taken some major steps forward. New laws have come into place mandating standard fitment of safety kit and many newer and safer cars have, as a result, made it to market. In 2018, we received our first 5-star rated model with the Nexon, and come 2021, not only has this number expanded but there is even a 4-star rated made-in-India EV now in the mix. We take a look at the 10 safest made-in-India cars currently in the market.
10. Maruti Vitara Brezza – 4/5
Tenth on the list of safest cars is the popular Maruti Vitara Brezza – currently the safest Maruti on sale in the country. While the Brezza was awarded a 4-star rating for adult occupancy (12.51 out of 17), it only roped in two stars for child occupancy (17.93 out of 49), with the 18-month-old dummy in the test suffering injuries to its head and shoulders. The markings for the ISOFIX anchorages did not meet Global NCAP testing protocols, either. All variants of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza are equipped with two airbags, ABS with EBD, front seat belts with pretensioners, a driver’s side seat-belt reminder and ISOFIX child-seat mounts.
Maruti is also readying a major update for the Vitara Brezza, with the new model expected to arrive next year.
9. Tata Tiago/Tigor and Tigor EV – 4/5
The facelift Tiago and Tigor get an identical 4-star rating as the Mahindra Thar – they too scored 12.52 points out of 17. The Tata siblings though drop below the Thar in the list, with just a 3-star child occupant safety rating – owing to the lack of ISOFIX anchorages – to the Thar’s four.
The standard models aside, Tata additionally also earned a 4-star safety rating for the updated Tigor EV – the first electric vehicle to be tested by Global NCAP. While lower than the standard model – 12 points as against 12.52 – the score is still commendable, given that the EV has to deal with the additional weight and mass of the underbody battery pack.
8. Mahindra Thar – 4/5
Mahindra’s second-gen Thar isn’t just a capable off-roader but a safe one as well. The second-gen off-roader scores a notable four stars for both adult (12.52) and child occupant protection. Interestingly, the safety score also brought with it an update to the Thar range, with Mahindra reducing it to only the variants with forward facing rear seats. The SUV could previously be had with side facing jump seats in the second row.
In terms of safety, the Thar gets dual airbags, ABS, rear parking sensors and even a roll cage as standard, with the fully-loaded model also packing in ESP. Prices for the second-gen Thar start from Rs 12.79 lakh.
7. Volkswagen Polo – 4/5
The oldest model in the list, the Polo earned its 4-star rating back in 2014 before the government mandate to install safety systems such as airbags, ABS and seatbelt reminders to all vehicles. Despite lacking some safety kit available on today’s models such as ABS and seat-belt reminders, the VW Polo with two airbags managed a solid 4-star rating for adult-occupant protection (12.54/17) way back in 2014. It also scored three stars for child occupant protection (29.91/49), despite lacking ISOFIX child-seat mounts.
6. Mahindra Marazzo – 4/5
The first made-in-India MPV to gain a 4-star rating, the Mahindra Marazzo performed better than people carriers such as its closest competitor, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The Marazzo MPV scored 12.85 out of 17 in adult safety and 22.22 out of 49 in child occupancy (two stars) thanks to safety kit such as dual front airbags, ABS, a driver’s side seat-belt reminder, front seat-belt pretensioners and ISOFIX anchorages for the rear seats – standard across all variants. This score also means it is the safest MPV on sale in India. Prices currently range from Rs 12.42 lakh-14.49 lakh.
5. Mahindra XUV700 – 5/5
Mahindra’s XUV700 was arguably Mahindra’s biggest launch of the calendar year and while its impressive list of features has caught a lot of people’s attention, Mahindra’s hasn’t placed safety as secondary. The XUV700 is the only three-row SUV to get a full 5-star rating (16.03). Child occupant safety too is an impressive four stars.
Mahindra has packed in a lot of safety tech into the XUV700, and while lower variants get only the basics, the fully loaded variants get all the bells and whistles, including seven airbags and advanced driver aids like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and more. Prices for the SUV700 range from Rs 12.49 lakh-22.99 lakh.
4. Tata Nexon – 5/5
The Nexon holds the distinction of being the first made-in-India car to be awarded a full 5-star safety rating by global NCAP. Tata’s compact SUV was initially awarded a 4-star rating, with the carmaker upgrading the model post the results and sending it back for a second round where it achieved all five stars (16.06/17). The Nexon’s child-occupancy rating is three stars (25/49). The point to note is that this was the pre-facelift model that walked away with the rating, with the model currently on sale further upgraded to meet pedestrian protection norms.
All variants of the Tata Nexon come with two airbags, ABS and ISOFIX child-seat mounts as standard. Currently, the extensive Tata Nexon range is priced from Rs 7.30 lakh, with prices going up to Rs 13.35 lakh for the top-spec diesel-automatic model.
3. Tata Altroz – 5/5
Currently the safest made-in-India hatchback on sale in the market, the Altroz is Tata’s second 5-star rated model in the listing, scoring 16.13 out of 17 points for adult occupant protection. Interestingly, while based on the same platform as the Punch, the hatch didn’t score as well as the latter on child occupant protection, securing three stars (29/49) as the backrest of the rear seat unlatched in the test and the three-year-old dummy’s head made contact with the interior.
Standard safety kit across the Altroz range (Rs 5.90-9.65 lakh, ex-showroom, pan-India) includes two airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, seat-belt reminders for the front seats and Isofix child-seat mounts. Higher variants add kit such as height-adjustable front seat belts, a rear parking camera, and front and rear fog lamps.
2. Mahindra XUV300 – 5/5
Mahindra’s sub-4m SUV also gets a 5-star rating for adult occupancy, though its score of 16.42 sees it dropping one place in the listing. The SUV also scores four stars for child occupant protection, scoring 37.44/49. Like the other models on this listing, the XUV300 packs in standard kit such as two airbags, ABS with EBD, rear disc brakes, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, seat belt reminders and rear parking sensors. Higher-spec variant add in even more safety kit with six airbags, front parking sensors, electronic stability programme, front and rear fog lamps, a tyre pressure monitoring system and a rear parking camera. Updates post the XUV’s launch, though, have seen bits such as the rear centre three-point seat belt and a driver knee airbag being dropped from the equipment list.
1. Tata Punch – 5/5
Tata has delivered on its word that safety was a priority with the Punch. The carmaker’s third 5-star rated car in recent years, the Punch marginally edges out the XUV300 to top the list with 16.45 points for adult occupant protection. The Punch also scores well for child occupant protection with a 4-star rating.
As standard, the Punch gets all the basic safety systems, including dual airbags, ABS, front seat belt reminders, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child seat anchors. The fully-loaded variants add to this with bits such as auto headlamp and wipers, while AMT variants get a low-traction mode to aid over slippery surfaces. Pricing for the Punch ranges from Rs 5.49 lakh-9.39 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Do let us know which of these cars is your favourite in the comments section below.
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