Global NCAP gives zero-rating to Maruti S-Presso for adult safety

Vehicles are rated from zero to five based on their safety features

Vehicle safety group Global NCAP on Wednesday said it has given zero star for safety to Maruti Suzuki's entry-level model S-Presso. Image: marutisuzuki.com

New Delhi, November 11

Vehicle safety group Global NCAP on Wednesday said it has given zero star for safety to Maruti Suzuki's entry-level model S-Presso for adult occupant protection, a finding which the company derided saying that it complies with Indian government regulations.

Vehicles are rated from zero to five based on their safety features and automobiles with a higher rating are considered safer for occupants.

The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso has achieved a disappointing zero-star rating in the new round of #SaferCarsForIndia crash tests, Global NCAP said in a statement.

The model, however, managed to receive two stars for child occupant protection, it added.

The Global NCAP also tested Hyundai's Grand i10 Nios and Kia Motors' Seltos along with S-Presso in the current round of evaluation.

Grand i10 Nios received two stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection.

On the other hand, Kia Seltos achieved three stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection.

Commenting on S-Presso, the Global NCAP said the vehicle's structure was unstable and should be improved. The safety body also rated the footwell area of the model as unstable.

"Child occupant protection showed poor results for both child dummies in the dynamic test explained by the poor performance of the restraint systems," Global NCAP said.

The car does not offer three-point belts in all positions as standard and has no ISOFIX anchorages for the child restraint systems, it added.

"It is very disappointing that Maruti Suzuki, the manufacturer with the largest share of the Indian market, offers such low safety performance for Indian consumers," Global NCAP Secretary General Alejandro Furas said.

Domestic manufacturers like Mahindra and Tata have demonstrated high levels of safety and protection for their customers, both achieving five-star performance, he added.

"Surely, it's time for Maruti Suzuki to demonstrate this commitment to safety for its customers," Furas noted.

When contacted, Maruti Suzuki India said 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.

"It cannot be left to the opinion of any self-proclaimed party. The Government of India has recently increased the stringency of car crash test standards and made them identical to European standards. All products of the company are fully compliant with these global standards and duly tested and certified by the Government of India," it added.

The Global NCAP also rated structure and footwell area of Grand i10 Nios as unstable.

It rated the structure of Seltos as a borderline case unstable. It also rated the model's footwell area as unstable. PTI