Maruti WagonR, Alto K10 score low safety rating in Global NCAP crash test

Vehicle safety group Global NCAP on Tuesday said it has given one- and two-star safety ratings for adult occupant protection to Maruti Suzuki India’s popular models WagonR and AltoK 10, respectively, after conducting crash tests. Both the models scored zero stars for child occupant protection as per the Global NCAP’s latest round of crash tests. Maruti, however, said its vehicles meet India’s crash safety regulations which are almost similar to the standards in Europe.

According to Global NCA, Maruti Suzuki WagonR scored one star in adult occupant protection and zero for child occupant protection, while Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 scored two stars for adult occupant protection and zero for child occupant protection.

A Maruti Suzuki India spokesperson told news agency Press Trust of India that safety is a critical issue and is therefore closely regulated by governments around the world as they are responsible for the safety of the people in their countries.

“For Maruti Suzuki also safety has always been a top priority. India’s crash safety regulations are almost similar to the standards in Europe and all our models meet these regulations and are duly tested and certified by the Government of India,” the spokesperson noted.

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.

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, Global NCAP said. 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.

Global NCAP rates vehicles from zero to five based on their safety features and automobiles with a higher rating are considered safer for occupants. According to its latest test, Global NCAP stated that the Alto K10 showed a stable structure and marginal to good protection for adult chest to head in the frontal impact but 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, it added.

Maruti Suzuki, Global NCAP said, 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,” it said.

“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,” Global NCAP Secretary General Alejandro Furas noted.

In many models and variants, the Maruti spokesperson said, the company has gone well beyond government mandatory requirements and provided additional safety features like airbags, electronic stability control, electronic brakeforce distribution, Hill-Hold assist, 360 degree-view camera, Suzuki TECT platform for enhanced safety, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and a host of others.

“We believe that the government is coming out with Bharat NCAP, an India specific safety rating process, which will be more meaningful for the Indian consumers,” the spokesperson said.