As far as safety is concerned, the Indian automobile industry has come a long way in the past few years. While the government has mandated some standard safety features on passenger vehicles, the buyer awareness has also drastically improved. Moreover, the Global NCAP‘s ‘Safer Cars for India’ campaign has also served as an eye opener for potential car buyers.
This campaign has resulted in manufacturers working on introducing safer cars for the country, with made-in-India cars currently leading the score chart. Let’s take a look at the top 5 safest SUVs currently available in the Indian market, as rated by Global NCAP –
5. Mahindra Scorpio-N
Adult occupant protection – 5 stars,
Child occupant protection – 3 stars
The Mahindra Scorpio-N scored full 5 stars for adult occupant protection and 3 stars for child occupant protection in the Global NCAP crash tests, scoring 29.25/34 and 28.93/49 points respectively. The bodyshell integrity of the SUV was rated stable. This makes the Scorpio-N the safest body-on-frame SUV that Global NCAP has crash tested so far.
Mahindra offers the Scorpio-N with safety features like 6 airbags, Driver Drowsiness Detection, Electronic Stability Control, 4 disc brakes, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat anchors, Hill Hold and Descent Control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, as well as a dedicated SOS button.
4. Mahindra XUV300
Adult occupant protection – 5 stars,
Child occupant protection – 4 stars
Tested back in 2020, the Mahindra XUV300 was the safest car in India for around a year, thanks to its 5 star crash test rating for adult occupant protection, scoring 16.42 points out of the maximum 17. Meanwhile the child occupant protection was rated at 4 stars with a score of 37.44/49. However, the sub-compact SUV has now moved down to the fourth spot with the introduction of more safer cars.
On the safety front, the XUV300 gets class-leading 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, ESP with Roll-over Mitigation, disc brakes on all 4 wheels, Corner Braking Control, Hill Start Assist, front and rear fog lamps, a tyre pressure monitoring system as well as a rear parking camera.
3. Tata Punch
Adult occupant protection – 5 stars,
Child occupant protection – 4 stars
The Tata Punch is a testament that affordable cars do not have to compromise on the safety aspect. Currently priced from Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards, the Tata Punch scored 5 stars in adult occupant protection, securing 16.45 points of out 17, and 4 stars in child occupant protection, with 40.89 points out of 49. The bodyshell integrity was rated stable. This makes it one of the safest SUVs in India as rated by Global NCAP!
The Tata Punch’s safety suite consists of dual frontal airbags, ABS with EBD and Brake Sway Control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. Being the most affordable SUV in India with no direct rivals, the Tata Punch currently puts up against tallboy hatchback like Maruti Suzuki Ignis and Citroen C3.
2. Mahindra XUV700
Adult occupant protection – 5 stars,
Child occupant protection – 3 stars
With Mahindra having full confidence in the XUV700, the SUV was sent to Global NCAP to be crash test right after its launch, and as expected, it passed with flying colour. The XUV700 achieved five stars for adult occupant (16.03/17) and four stars for child occupants (41.66/49). The bodyshell and footwell area were rated as stable and they were capable of withstanding further loadings.
Do note that the XUV700’s base variant was tested by GNCAP, equipped with dual frontal airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX child seat anchorages. However, the higher variants of the SUV are also offered with 5 additional airbags (total 7), ESP, a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring system, as well as a host of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control etc.
1. Skoda Kushaq/Volkswagen Taigun
Adult occupant protection – 5 stars,
Child occupant protection – 3 stars
The Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq were the first cars to be tested by Global NCAP under its latest, more-demanding crash test requirements. The two SUVs scored five stars for both adult occupant protection (29.64/34) as well as child occupant protection (42/49) – which makes them the only cars in India to achieve this feat. The bodyshell integrity of the two SUVs was rated as stable, meaning it could take further load, while the doors offered offered side impact protection.
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Driving Volkswagen Taigun on an Airfield! | TOI Auto
The made-in-India and made-for-India SUVs are based on the heavily localised MQB A0 IN platform, and are equipped with safety features like dual airbags, ESC, ABS with EBD, traction control, dual front airbags, three-point seatbelts for all five seats, ISOFIX child seat anchorage for rear seats and a tyre pressure monitor system as standard. The top-end variants of the Kushaq and Taigun are offered with 6 airbags and hill-hold control as well. The Taigun is priced from Rs 11.56 lakh to Rs 18.96 lakh, while the Kushaq is available at a base price of Rs 11.59 lakh, going up to Rs 19.69 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom).
Will the safety aspect be on top of your list of things to consider while purchasing your next car or SUV? Do let us know in the comments down below.Source
