Top selling safest cars in India indicates preference for SUVs

In collaboration with the Institute for Road Traffic Education (IRTE), Global NCAP today released its Indian progress report for 2018 on the backdrop of the ongoing 'Stop the Crash' safety initiative. Over the years, the organisation has tested more than 25 mass-market models and variants that are made and sold in India. ​

According to the report, the Tata Nexon and Volkswagen Polo scored 4-star ratings for the protection of adult occupants and 3-star ratings for child occupants. The Maruti Vitara Brezza achieved a four-star rating . The mention of the two top-selling SUVs with 4-star safety ratings from Global NCAP is indication enough that OEMs are ensuring that the top selling ones are also the safest on the roads.

The Tata Nexon is closely followed by the Toyota Etios, Maruti Vitara Brezza and the Tata Zest with 4-star for adults and 2-star for the child occupants.

Table source: Global NCAP

According to Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), the 'Safer Cars for India' project, which was launched in 2014 has acted as a catalyst for inspiring action from the industry and the government. It claims that the project had convinced the Indian government to opt for the UN equivalent crash test standards for front and side impact.

It has been applied in India for new models from 1 October 2017 and will be for all cars from 1 October 2019. The government has also committed to apply the standard for pedestrian protection, again in two phases from 1 October 2018 and 1 October 2020. Motorcycle safety too has received a fillip from the mandate for anti-lock brakes and automatic headlights on.

Back in 2014, the models tested included India’s best-selling cars, Maruti Alto 800, Tata Nano, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Polo. Combined sales of these five cars accounted for around 20 percent of all the new cars sold in India in 2013.

Read more: Top 5 UVs – August 2018 | Tata Nexon enters the best-sellers list

With 4,499 units sales in the month of August 2018, Tata Nexon was one of the first SUVs in India to enter the fray with a four star safety rating for the adult occupants. The top selling SUV of the country, Maruti Vitara Brezza (13,271 / August 2018) is the latest SUV to enter the 4-star club in India, according to Global NCAP.

In February 2018, Global NCAP launched the ‘Safer Choice’ award at the Delhi Motor Show. This will be given to any manufacturer that can offer for sale a car in India that meets the following criteria: a 5-star score for adult occupant protection; at least a 4-star result in child occupant protection; meet UN pedestrian protection requirements and include electronic stability control (ESC).

With a positive impetus from the government and with an increasing number of safety-conscious car buyers, major automobile OEMs of the fourth largest passenger vehicle market in the world are increasingly looking to raise their safety performance well above the minimum statutory requirements.

Interview: David Ward, Secretary General, Global NCAP

Also read: Autocar Professional's safety webinar

Global NCAP's David Ward on 'Democratising safety'

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