These Models Fared The Best And Worst In 2022 NCAP Tests

Crash ratings certified by New Car Assessment Programs (NCAP) are a reliable measure of a car’s safety. Indian cars are tested by Global NCAP (under the Safer Cars For India campaign) and some of them like the VW Virtus by Latin NCAP. Together, the two agencies tested over a dozen different models sold in India in 2022.

Here’s a list of the top five winners and top five losers in NCAP tests this year: 

Winner: Skoda Kushaq/Volkswagen Taigun 

The Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun platform siblings delivered a stellar performance in Global NCAP’s crash tests, with full five stars for adult and child occupant protection. The two compact SUVs come with ESC and dual airbags as standard. 

• Skoda Kushaq Aces Global NCAP Crash Tests With A 5 Star Safety Rating

Winner: Mahindra Scorpio N 

The Scorpio N has bagged a full five-star rating for adult occupant safety and three stars for child safety. The base-spec SUV tested had dual airbags, but GNCAP says a majority of its sales are units with six airbags. 

Winner: Mahindra XUV700 

Global NCAP awarded the XUV700 its “Safer Choice”, given the SUV’s stellar five-star adult and four-star child occupant safety scores. It’s one of the few models in its segment to offer driver-assistance features in the top-spec variants. 

Winner: Volkswagen Virtus 

Latin NCAP tested the made-in-India VW sedan and awarded it a stellar five stars, with a 92 per cent score for both adult and child occupant protection. While the South American Virtus gets six airbags even in standard-spec models, the India-spec sedan offers dual airbags on lower variants. 

Winner: Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger

The Nissan Magnite and its platform cousin Renault Kiger each scored four stars in GNCAP’s tests for adult safety, managing a two-star rating for child occupants. The sub-4 metre SUV also put up a stellar show in the ASEAN NCAP safety tests. It doesn’t offer six airbags even in higher-spec variants, but the stable body structure helped the SUV achieve a good safety rating. 

Loser: Kia Carens 

Kia’s people mover scored a subpar three-star rating for adult and child safety. This is despite the fact that the Carens MPV comes with six airbags as standard. It shows that just safety features aren’t important, but the vehicle needs to have a stable body structure as well.

Loser: Honda WR-V 

The Honda subcompact SUV was awarded a one-star rating by Latin NCAP with a 41 per cent rating for adult and child occupant safety. The tested Brazil-spec model was similar to the India-spec WR-V with dual front airbags as standard. 

Loser: Maruti Swift 

Maruti’s hatchback managed to bag only one star for adult safety and one star for child safety. Its body shell was rated ‘unstable’ in the frontal crash tests. The hatchback’s rating dropped from two stars to one after being retested by Global NCAP’s more stringent norms.

Loser: Maruti S-Presso 

The S-Presso was also tested alongside the Swift, according to Global NCAP’s new protocol. It had received a two-star rating previously, but could only manage one star under the new testing regime. It got zero stars for child safety. 

Loser: Maruti Ignis

The Ignis had a similarly disappointing crash result with one star for adult safety and zero stars for child safety. However, the former is an improvement over the previous India-spec model’s test, where it scored zilch. It has government-mandated dual airbags as standard, alongside an ‘unstable’ body structure.

Global and Latin NCAP tests help buyers make an informed decision about their car purchase. We hope that carmakers in India make safety ratings a priority so that even popular models are backed by good safety scores in the future.