Exclusive: Renault Kwid crash tested by Global NCAP

Renault India's current bestseller, the Kwid, is learnt to have undergone a crash test by global safety watchdog Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP).

According to sources, the Kwid is part of the set of seven cars that have been crash-tested under the agency's Safer Cars for India campaign. At the time time of publishing this report, there have been no comments regarding the Kwid's crash test either by Renault or Global NCAP.

Autocar Professional, on May 4, broke the news about the new round of tests involving seven cars from India. The results of the tests will be announced on May 17 in New Delhi. The Kwid is learnt to have got a low score in the crash test. We learn from industry sources that, based on comments and suggestions for improvements, Renault has already reinforced the Kwid, which could again be crash-tested.

The CMFA is a global platform, and hence adding safety features like airbags and ABS for example is possible. The Kwid, which will be launched in Brazil later this year will have multiple safety features to meet the safety regulations of that country.  

Thus far, seven compact car models from India have been crash-tested by Global NCAP. This does not include the Toyota Etios Liva voluntary crash test. In January 2014, Global NCAP published crash test results for five of India's best-known cars: the Maruti Alto 800, Hyundai i10, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo and the Tata Nano. All the cars received zero-star adult protection ratings. Soon thereafter, Volkswagen decided to offer the Polo for sale in India with two airbags as standard. This model then received a four-star safety rating. 

In November 2014, Global NCAP announced crash test results for Nissan's Datsun Go and the Suzuki Maruti Swift. Both cars received zero-star adult protection ratings. Since the test of the Go, Datsun has made structural changes and also offered a driver's side airbag as an option to enhance its safety quotient. It is likely that Datsun would incorporate some of that in its small car Redigo, which is based on the same platform as the Kwid, scheduled to hit the roads next month.

Last month, Bajaj Auto's quadricycle Qute was also crash tested by Global NCAP's affiliate Euro NCAP.