Mixed results in Global NCAP’s latest crash test ratings
The Honda Amaze is rated two stars for adult and zero stars for child occupant safety. The Kia Carens originally scored zero stars for adult protection and after improvements from the manufacturer and a retest, achieved three stars in adult safety and five stars for child occupants (*). The Mahindra Bolero Neo scored only one star for both adult and child occupant safety.
The assessments are amongst the final tests in the #SaferCarsForIndia campaign as Bharat NCAP becomes fully activated.
Alejandro Furas, Global NCAP Secretary General said,
“We were disappointed to see Mahindra’s one star rating for the Bolero Neo. This falls well below the safety performance we have come to expect from the manufacturer.
“There has been an improvement in Kia’s rating for the Carens since our original test when the model scored a zero rating for adult occupant protection. However we were expecting a better performance in the retest given the Carens is fitted with six airbags as standard.
“Regrettably Honda did not take the opportunity to update the Amaze with more safety features which explains its disappointing score.”
David Ward, President of the Towards Zero Foundation said,
“This mixed set of results demonstrates that more effort is still needed from some manufacturers to prioritise vehicle safety in the Indian market.
“We have seen a great deal of improvement throughout our #SaferCarsforIndia campaign but it’s clear that maintaining this safety momentum is crucially important. We will be discussing this and other key vehicle safety matters for India during an NCAP24 panel session later today.”
Kia Carens (six airbags standard)
The Carens was tested under the previous Global NCAP protocols reaching three stars for adult and child occupant protection. Since that time the Carens was reassessed under the new protocols (2022). The structure was improved but the test showed high neck values for the driver, resulting in zero stars for adult occupant protection. That triggered an immediate reaction from Kia to improve the neck performance, improving the restraint systems.
After a new test the model showed improvements but not the performance that Global NCAP expected as the Carens offers six airbags as standard, limiting the car to the three star performance.
For this reason, the side pole impact was not assessed. Child occupant protection showed improvements by implementing i-Size approval for CRS and offering standard 3 points belt in all seating positions.
Zero stars for adult protection:
VIN#: MZBGD813LPN099741 (production 02/05/2023) until VIN# MZBGD813LPN144399
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Watch the crash test video
Download crash test images
Three stars for adult protection:
VIN#: MZBGD813LPN144400 production date 11/12/2023
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
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Honda Amaze (two airbags standard)
The Honda amaze was tested under the previous Global NCAP protocols achieving four stars for adult and 1 star for child occupant protection.
The model was reassessed under the current and more stringent protocols resulting in two stars for adult and zero stars for child occupant protection. Child protection showed head contact in the frontal impact for both dummies, high loadings in the chest and neck of the three year old child and ejection risk in the 1.5 years old dummies. The lack of three point belts in all seating positions and passenger airbags disconnection switch as well as the failure of some CRSs in installation explain the zero stars for child occupant protection.
Adult protection scored low because of lack of optional side head protection, driver only Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) and ESC is not standard.
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Download crash test images
Mahindra Bolero Neo (two airbags standard)
The Mahindra Bolero Neo was tested under Global NCAP’s latest protocols and showed low protection for adult protection in the frontal crash with an unstable structure, unstable footwell area, weak chest protection for the driver and poor feet protection. The front impact protection showed a significant difference with side impact protection.
The model does not offer side head protection, not even as optional and SBR are not present according to Global NCAP requirements.
Child occupant protection showed acceptable dynamic performance but was affected by the lack of 3 point belts in all seating positions, lack of passenger airbag disconnection switch and the decision to only allow one CRS to be installed in the car.
The CRS installation showed a low score as most CRS’s failed. The Bolero Neo offers side seating benches which pose a significant risk for all occupants. Mahindra falls disappointingly short of Global NCAP’s safety expectations with the continued use of this type of seating.
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Download crash test images
Note to Editors
(*) The Kia Carens was voluntarily tested in compliance with 2022 assessment protocols.
Global NCAP’s crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection for all models, as well as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Pedestrian protection and side pole impact protection assessments are required for vehicles scoring the highest star ratings.
More information on the protocol requirements can be found on the Global NCAP web site:
www.globalncap.org/resources
Safer Cars For India Campaign
The #SaferCarsForIndia campaign was launched by Global NCAP in 2014 with the objective of promoting safer vehicles in the country. Between 2014-2024 Global NCAP have completed more than sixty safety assessments, which have acted as catalysts for the further improvement of safety for Indian cars. www.globalncap.org
Global NCAP has created #NCAP24, a new event platform focused on multi-stakeholder collaboration, hosted in its inaugural year in Munich with Euro NCAP and the ADAC.
The two day event, on 23 and 24 April, will feature dynamic discussions on the current status of vehicle safety in countries around the world and the latest technological and policy developments.
Delegates will have the opportunity to experience first-hand live demonstrations of life saving crash avoidance technologies, gain insights into the latest safety developments and engage in bilateral conversations with representatives from NCAPs and industry.
More information here: www.globalncap.org/ncap24
Global NCAP is a major programme of the Towards Zero Foundation, a UK based charity working internationally in support of the new UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, with a goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
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