Popular Indian Hatchbacks Fail NCAP Safety Tests

Prominent cars Maruti Suzuki Swift and Nissan Datsun Go fizzled the recently held impact tests, a worldwide auto safety group has claimed. The Go is an entry-level model, which competes with Maruti Suzuki’s Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon, while the Swift is positioned as a more premium hatchback.

Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), a collective of consumer auto safety, led these tests and asserted that both these cars failed terribly on this critical safety test. The collective added that while India is currently the fifth-biggest maker of passenger cars, these tests demonstrate that our country ought to adopt globally-acknowledged safety standards.

The Swift has received a zero-star rating in the 64 km/h frontal collision test. Two variants of the car were tested – one exported by Maruti to Latin America, and another which sells as the base variant in India. Latin American market regulations mean that car’s base variant too has airbags/ABS, while in India neither is standard.

While the Datsun Go also failed, it fared slightly better with a two-star rating. The testing agency said that both the cars showed at the crash-test received near-fatal injuries and the shells of their bodies disintegrated. For the majority of cars sold in India, air bags remain optional. Additionally, no vehicle is required to be tested for its ability to withstand a frontal collision.

“India has the potential to be a world leader in the automobile industry, but Indian consumers are not aware of how unsafe they are in case of a crash. It is critical for the safety of the passenger. We are pleased that India is launching an NCAP consumer testing programme. If this happens, every new car sold in India would have a proper crash structure and airbags,” said Global NCAP Chairman Max Mosley.