Latest Car News in India

The premium compact sedan Dzire and the hatchback Baleno by the Indo-Japanese carmaker Maruti Suzuki have scored high ratings in the recently concluded Bharat NCAP crash test. According to reports the compact sedan Dzire has been awarded the highest safety rating for both Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and Child Occupant Protection (COP), marking a major milestone in the brand’s safety evolution.

 

Tested as part of the initial batch of vehicles under the newly formed Bharat NCAP, the Dzire scored 29.46 out of 32 in adult safety and an impressive 41.57 out of 49 in child safety. These figures make the Dzire one of the safest vehicles in its segment and strengthen Maruti Suzuki's commitment to enhancing passenger safety. It would be worth mentioning that it is not the first time Dzire has received high ratings in a crash test. Earlier also in 2024, Dzire became the first model of the carmaker to score a five-star rating in the Global NCAP test. During the Bharat NCAP tests, the Dzire secured 14.17 out of 16.00 in the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test and 15.29 out of 16.00 in the Side 

 

 

The sedan also recorded a dynamic score of 23.57/24.00, a perfect 12/12 in CRS (Child Restraint System) installation, and a vehicle assessment score of 6/13, which evaluates safety assist systems. Standard safety equipment on the tested model included frontal airbags, side curtain airbags, knee airbags, and seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters. However, side chest and pelvis airbags were not available. For child safety, the Dzire comes equipped with ISOFIX anchor points, an integrated CRS, and an airbag cut-off switch. Safety assist technologies include Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and systems that comply with UN GTR No. 8 / UNECE R140 / AIS-133, all offered as standard.

 

Along with the Dzire, Maruti Suzuki's Baleno was also tested under Bharat NCAP, achieving a four-star rating in adult protection and three stars in child protection. The test was conducted on two variants of the hatchback, one with six airbags and another with two airbags. The six-airbag variant scored 26.52 out of 32.00 for AOP, while the two-airbag variant scored 24.04. Both variants received an identical 34.81 out of 49.00 in child safety. In crash simulations, both versions scored 11.54 out of 16.00 in the Frontal Offset test. However, in the Side Barrier test, the two-airbag variant outperformed with 14.99, compared to 12.50 for the six-airbag model. Baleno's safety equipment includes ESC, Hill Hold Assist, ABS with EBD, reverse parking camera, 360-degree camera, and seatbelt pretensioners.

 

With the Dzire leading the way and the Baleno showing promising results, Maruti Suzuki appears to be making meaningful strides in enhancing the safety of its vehicle lineup for Indian roads.