VW/Škoda shine again with five star performance but Maruti Suzuki continues to disappoint with one and two star ratings

The first 2023 round of results under Global NCAP’s more demanding crash test requirements for India were published today with the Maruti Suzuki WagonR scoring one star in adult occupant protection and zero for child occupant protection. The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 scored two stars for adult occupant protection and zero for child occupant protection

The VW Virtus / Škoda Slavia achieved five stars in both adult and child occupant protection.

Global NCAP’s updated crash test protocols include assessments of frontal and side impact protection for all tested models as well as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and pedestrian protection. Side impact pole protection assessments are also required for vehicles scoring the highest star ratings. More information on the latest protocol requirements can be found on the Global NCAP web site (https://www.globalncap.org/resources).

The VW Virtus / Škoda Slavia achieved a top star rating for adult and child occupants showing a stable structure which offered good protection.

While the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 showed a stable structure and marginal to good protection for adult chest to head in the frontal impact, it showed weak protection to the chest in the side impact. The WagonR also offered weak chest protection for the driver despite the improvements in the restraint systems by Maruti Suzuki since the previous version of the model was tested by Global NCAP.

Maruti Suzuki declined to nominate a Child Restraint System (CRS) for child passengers. The lack of three-point belts in all seating positions and the lack of standard airbag disabling for a rear facing CRS in the front seating position explains the zero score for child protection in both Maruti Suzuki’s models.

Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Global NCAP said,

“Since 2014 Global NCAP has been encouraging a market shift in India for safer cars. We have been delighted with the positive response from Indian automakers and some global automakers as well. Although there has been some limited improvement, we are yet to see this safety commitment deployed in the most popular Maruti Suzuki models.

“Given that six airbags are becoming a mandatory requirement for new models sold in India, it is particularly worrying for Global NCAP that Maruti Suzuki does not even make this requirement available as a customer option.”

David Ward, President of the Towards Zero Foundation said,

“Another strong performance from VW/Škoda but Maruti Suzuki fall well short again on safety performance for some of the most popular cars sold in India.

“With Bharat NCAP set to launch soon, we challenge Maruti Suzuki to catch up with the other leading domestic manufacturers as well as VW/Škoda and demonstrate their commitment to road safety and customer protection.”

Saul Billingsley, Executive Director of the FIA Foundation, said

“As many car makers, including VW/Škoda, are embracing the safety agenda and designing for five stars, the continued failure of Maruti Suzuki is inexcusable and unacceptable. Culture at the company must change to place the safety of its customers first.”

Kelly Larson, who leads Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Initiative for Global Road Safety, said,

“We will not reach the UN Decade of Action goal of reducing road traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 50% unless we achieve improvements in all areas of road safety, including vehicle safety. It’s encouraging to see manufacturers like Volkswagen and Škoda demonstrate their commitment to safety, but more manufacturers need to follow suit.”

Volkswagen VIRTUS / Škoda SLAVIA
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Download crash test image

Maruti Suzuki ALTO K10
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Download crash test image

Maruti Suzuki WAGONR
Read the full crash test report
Watch the crash test video
Download crash test image

Note to Editors:

Safer Cars For India Campaign

The #SaferCarsForIndia campaign was launched by Global NCAP in 2014 with the support of the FIA Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies, with the objective of promoting safer vehicles in the country. Between 2014 and 2022 Global NCAP has completed more than sixty safety assessments which have acted as an important catalyst in the safety improvement of Indian cars. www.globalncap.org

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.

About the FIA Foundation

The FIA Foundation is an independent UK registered charity which supports an international programme of activities promoting road safety, the environment and sustainable mobility. Our aim is to ensure ‘Safe, Clean, Fair and Green’ mobility for all, playing a part to ensure a sustainable future through: promoting research, disseminating the results of research and providing information in any matters of public interest which include road safety, automobile technology, the protection and preservation of human life and public health, transport and public mobility and the protection of the environment; and promoting improvement in the safety of motor sport, and of drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other road users which works globally to promote safe, clean fair and green mobility.

For further information, to follow and share:
twitter.com/FIAFdn
facebook.com/fiafdn
instagram.com/fia_fdn
www.fiafoundation.org

About Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $1.7 billion.

For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn.