As expressway speed limits increase, the importance of safe vehicles is undeniable. If you’re shopping for a new car, safety should be a top consideration. Several cars stand out, having undergone rigorous testing by Bharat NCAP and similar organizations. These tests evaluate a vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in a collision.
The KIA Syros, a recent addition to the subcompact SUV market, earned a 5-star rating from Bharat NCAP. It achieved high scores for both Adult and Child Occupant Protection, with vehicles assessed out of 32 for Adult and 49 for Child Occupant Protection. The Syros scored approximately 30.21 out of 32 for Adult and 44.42 for Child Occupant Protection.
The Syros also performed exceptionally in the side impact test, earning a perfect score of 16 out of 16. It comes equipped with 16 autonomous safety features, including ADAS level 2, and 20 standard safety features, making it a leader in its class.
The Tata Nexon, tested by Global NCAP, earned near-perfect scores. It scored 32.22 out of 34 for adult occupant safety and 44.52 out of 49 for child occupant safety. Tata has a strong track record in safety, and the Nexon provides comprehensive protection in a crash.
The new Vitara Brezza has not yet been crash tested. The older version with two airbags earned a 4-star adult occupant safety rating and 2 stars for child occupant safety. The newer model may offer enhanced safety.
The Hyundai Venue was crash-tested in 2019 under ANCAP protocols, achieving a 4-star rating for adult occupant safety. The tested version, possibly a global specification, included curtain airbags.
The Mahindra XUV 3XO, awarded a 5-star crash rating, scored 29.36 out of 32 for Adult Protection and 43 out of 49 for Child Protection. It earned 13.36 out of 16 in the frontal offset test and a full 16 out of 16 in the side barrier test. Safety features include 6 airbags, a 360-degree camera system, 3-point seatbelts for all passengers, all-wheel disc brakes, and Level 2 ADAS.
The Skoda Kylaq is the safest subcompact SUV, earning 30.88 out of 32 for Adult Occupant Protection and 45 out of 49 for Child Occupant Protection. It scored 15.04 and 15.84 out of 16 in the frontal and side barrier tests, respectively. It features 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and a rear parking camera.
Maruti Suzuki Dzire, with 6 airbags, achieved a 5-star rating for both adult and child occupant safety. The Dzire, along with the Virtus, achieved a 92% adult and child safety rating.
The 6-airbag version of the Baleno scored about 26.52/32 for adult safety (around 4 stars) and 34.81 out of 49 for child safety (around 3 stars). It has front, side head curtain, side chest, and side pelvis airbags, along with ISOFIX seats.