Ownership of a car has become an integral part of everyone’s life. People tend to use them to commute or rejenuvate in their daily lives. We use cars whether travelling within the city or on a highway. Given our increased usage and the increase in the number of cars on the road, it becomes important that we have a safe vehicle.
Over the years, vehicle safety has gained increased significant attention. Consumers have become more aware of the issue, and policymakers focus on making vehicles safe. These cars undergo stringent testing under several protocols. The two protocols that India follows are the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP) and the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP). As consumers look for ratings using these protocols, car manufacturers focus more on occupant protection. The cars are evaluated based on their safety for both adult and child occupants via rigorous crash tests.
As of November 2024, several 5-star-rated vehicles are available in India, showing the manufacturers’ commitment to passenger safety. This article showcases some of those cars on sale in India with a 5-star safety rating by GNCAP/BNCAP. This will help readers be aware of the safe choices available, enabling them to make an informed decision while purchasing their dream vehicle.
The following cars have been rated as 5-Star by GNCAP/BNCAP:
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Tata Safari/Tata Harrier
BNCAP tested the vehicles in 2023. Tata is known in the market for its build quality, and this safety rating is a testament to this fact. Both vehicles scored 30.08 out of 32 in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and 44.54 in Child Occupant Protection (COP), which led to their being awarded a 5-star safety rating.
The vehicles have a total of 7 airbags. There are front airbags for both the driver and the passenger. The belt pretensioner is supposed to tighten in a crash. The vehicle also has side-head curtain airbags, which protect passengers from the side.
Further, they have an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Level-II, which can make driving effortless and safe in case of any unpleasant surprises. Lastly, it has 17 ways advanced electronic stability programs work.
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Tata Punch. EV
Another safe vehicle from the Tata family’s great lineup is the Punch. EV. BNCAP tested the vehicle in 2024. It scored 31.46 out of 32 in the AOP and 45 out of 49 for COP, which led to the car scoring five stars in the safety rating.
The vehicle has six airbags, including the driver, passenger, side, and curtain airbags. It also comes with a belt pretensioner. Further, it is equipped with standard safety features like the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), hill descent control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and impact sensing auto door unlock. The availability of these features makes this vehicle very desirable and safest.
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Mahindra XUV 3XO
Mahindra XUV 3XO is the newly launched facelift of the XUV 300, which has become a top-rated product by the manufacturer. The vehicle was tested very recently. To be more precise, it was tested in October 2024 by BNCAP. The vehicle scored 29.36 out of 32 in AOP and 43 out of 49 on COP. Hence, the vehicle scored a complete 5-star safety rating.
The vehicle has six airbags, including airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as airbags for the side and curtain area. It has the usual safety features, such as EBD, ESC, and ABS. The higher car variants also come with ADAS, thus offering increased safety to the vehicle’s occupants. Under ADAS, features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control are available, among other features.
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Mahindra Thar Roxx
The newly launched SUV by Mahindra has created a stir in the market, with people rushing to purchase it. The cherry on top is that the vehicle has recently been declared a 5-star rating by BNCAP. BNCAP tested the vehicle in October 2024. The vehicle scored 31.09 out of 32 in AOP and 45 out of 49 in COP, leading to the 5-star safety rating.
The body-on-frame SUV has six airbags and 3-point seatbelts for all passengers. It is also equipped with ESC across all variants. The higher variants come with level II ADAS, including lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and blind view monitor.
In addition, tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) and brake locking differentials (BLD) are available, which add more security and peace of mind.
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Maruti Suzuki New Dzire
The most notable car maker in the Indian market launched a facelift of one of the most famous vehicles, the Dzire, this month. The most desirable thing about this vehicle is that it scored a perfect 5-star rating in the crash tests conducted by GNCAP. Every auto enthusiast is thrilled with this news, as Dzire became the first vehicle from the manufacturer to score this 5-star rating.
The car scored 31.24 out of 34 in adult safety rating and 39.20 out of 49 in child safety rating. The vehicle is equipped with six airbags for the driver, front passenger, and at the side, along with curtain airbags. The car is equipped with TPMS, indicating to the driver if the tyre pressure falls below a certain safe level. This will help prevent accidents and ensure prolonged tire life. It also has ABS along with EBD. In addition to this, the vehicle comes with ESP and a hill hold.
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Hyundai Verna
The Korean car maker has long had the Verna in the Indian market, and it has become a hit among consumers. GNCAP tested the vehicle in 2023 and successfully scored five stars. The vehicle scored 28.18 out of 34 for the adult safety rating and 42 out of 49 for child safety.
The vehicle is equipped with six airbags at all necessary places, which ensure total protection of the occupants. It also has hill-start assist control, all-four disc brakes on specific variants, vehicle stability management systems, and an emergency stop signal (ESS). This makes the vehicle a formidable competitor in its segment. The car features more than 65 features for the safety of the occupants, along with 30 standard safety features.
